
HOW TO GROW 

FLOWERS, FRUITS, 
VEGETABLES, ETC. 




%^ 



By 

chari.es H, TRITSCHLER 

W. D, BUCFL\NAN 




Class ipp 
Rnnk • J g 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




CHARLES H. TRITSCHLER. 



A Tractical Treatise of 



HOW TO GROW 

FLOWERS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, 
SHRUBBERY, EVERGREENS, 
SHADE TREES, ORNA- 
MENTAL TREES 



PLANT PESTS, DISEASES AND 
REMEDIES 



By 

CHARLES H. TRITSCHLER 
and W. D. BUCHANAN 



Price, $1.00 



Nashville, Tenn. 

McQuiDDY Printing Company 

1910 






Copyright, 1910 

BY 

Charles H. Tritschler 
AND W. D. Buchanan 



©CLA275733 




W. D. BUCHATs^AN. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



It is our intention in introducing this book to the 
amateur to give him as concise a knowledge of grow- 
ing plants as we possibly can in a brief description of 
each subject embraced. Our purpose is to compress 
the work as much as is consistent with the subject in 
hand. 

At the earnest request of a number of friends and 
with a knowledge of the requirements of the many who 
would like to cultivate the ofttimes small body of land 
lying idle on the premises, but do not possess sufficient 
knowledge of seed and plant management to put their 
desires into execution, therefore we have decided to 
place before the amateur a comprehensive treatise on 
vegetable gardening, floriculture, and the planting and 
care of fruit and shade trees, shrubbery, evergreens, and 
vines. 

This is not an encyclopedia of plants arranged for the 
perusal of the botanist, nor a study of agriculture, flo- 
riculture, pomology, or arboriculture, but just a sim- 
ple, comprehensive, plain talk about how to successfully 
grow seeds and plants, requiring only close observation 
to make a success and to find that you have chosen one 
of the most interesting subjects on earth. 

Each subject will be introduced in its proper season, 
commencing with autumn preparation and planting on 
through winter, spring, and summer. On a well-kept 
place, be it farm, garden, orchard, or vineyard, there is 
some work to be done in nearly every month of the year, 
especially in the orchard and vineyard. Trees, shrub- 
bery, and vines can be better worked over in winter for 
trimming into better shape, removing suckers and sur- 
plus wood, and trimming of vines and the destruction of 
insect pests. 



4 Ino'roductory. 

It is with much concern and feeling highly compli- 
mented that we are requested to assume the role of in- 
structors, as the subjects to be treated are so numerous 
and varied; but we hope to make each subject so simple 
to the reader that the busy man will comprehend at once 
and be able to easily follow the instructions. 

This work is not intended for the use of the profes- 
sional, with his many acres and much expanse of glass, 
but for the novice, the busy man in the city, with his 
little fifty-foot square of many small beds filled with a 
great variety of the vegetable kingdom of which he 
would like to become better acquainted in their habits 
of growth and the proper treatment thereof; the man in 
the suburban home, with several acres on which he de- 
lights to spend his few leisure hours each day in the 
dewy morn or in the cool of the evening, when he has 
laid aside dull care for the day and proceeds to recreate. 

After over forty years of varied experience in flori- 
culture, we feel that we are able to assist the novice in 
his or her efforts to grow flowers to as near perfection 
as is possible with one who has not had previous expe- 
rience. With close attention to detail in this work, there 
should be little difficulty with the very first attempt. 

It is our intention to make this book fulfill the require- 
ments of the amateur and inexperienced florist. To do 
this, we have to give instructions on some subjects more 
in detail than will seem necessary to the experienced 
florist; but it must be understood that this book is not 
for those who have been following the business as a 
profession, but is for the amateur who takes pleasure in 
the work of his own garden. We flatter ourselves that 
this book will be welcomed, filling a want that no work 
printed in this country has attempted to supply. 

CHARLES H. TRITSCHLER. 
W. D. BUCHANAN. 



FLOWERS, 



LOCATION AND SOIL. 

When choice can be had, always lay the flower garden 
out with a southern or southeastern inclination; and if 
there is good shelter on the north and west sides, such 
as timber or hills, to keep off the cold winds, many plants 
can be grown that could not otherwise be cultivated 
without such shelter. In such a situation, work can be 
started earlier in the spring and carried on later in the 
autumn, making the seasons ten to fifteen days longer 
at each end. 

The soil in the flower garden is of as much importance 
as in the vegetable garden. Nearly all flowering plants 
do best in a deep, rich soil ; but there are a number of 
our best flowering and decorative plants that do well in 
poor land. 

It is our aim to avoid tedious reading and to compress 
this book as much as possible consistent with the work 
in hand. 

PROPAGATION BY SEEDS. 

Instruction can be given only to a certain extent in 
the propagation of plants from seed. Long experience 
is required to gain the knowledge for a full understand- 
ing of the proper temperature and moisture required for 
the germination of different varieties. 

A very good rule is to sow seed of hardy plants very 
early in the spring — about the first of March — and seed 
of tender or tropical plants about the first of May, either 
in the open or under the sashes. 



6 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

In describing each plant, we will also instruct you 
about the time to sow the seed; and just here we will 
state, as a further guide to you, that all very small seeds 
must be covered very shallow — sown on the surface, 
rubbed over with the flat of the hand, and pressed down 
lightly with a piece of board. Seeds that are so small 
that they can scarcely be seen should be sown on the 
surface and patted down lightly with a smooth brick. 
Such seed will do better under glass, but will have to be 
shaded three or four hours in the middle of the day, or 
the sun may destroy the plants just as they germinate. 
A seed as large as that of the radish can be covered an 
inch or more and will come up readily. 

A good plan when desirous of using a bed for starting 
flower seed is to choose a spot where water does not 
stand, on the east side of an outhouse, where the sun- 
light does not fall on the bed after ten o'clock. That 
amount of sunlight will be suflicient for the health of the 
seedling until large enough to transplant to the border. 
In a bed like this the seed can be sown in rows about 
three inches apart, and the name of the seed placed at 
the end of each row to show what you have to arrange 
in the border. 

In covering the seed, do not use anything but sandy 
loam or light, rich soil from the forest or from an old 
rubbish heap. Sift enough soil to cover the seed. The 
soil beneath does not make so much difference. If it re- 
tains moisture, that will be suflicient. 

If there is not suflicient rain, it is well to water the 
seed bed occasionally late in the evening so as to have 
all night for the water to soak into the soil. The same 
amount of water used in the morning would soon evap- 
orate and would do little good. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 7 

ABRONIA (ANNUAL). 

A pretty trailing vine, suitable for rockeries, swing- 
ing baskets, window boxes, and vases, and makes a nice 
show in the border. It is very much like the verbena, 
with clusters of fragrant, rosy-pink flowers, and has quite 
a lengthy season of bloom. Seed should be started in a 
box in April. Place in a sunny window, placing a glass 
over the box to retain moisture. 

ACROCLINIUM. 

This plant is classed with the everlastings. The flow- 
ers, when cut and dried, are useful to make up winter 
bouquets. 

The seed should be sown in the border where they are 
to grow. They make a nice show when the plants are 
grown several together among the other plants. The 
colors are fose and white. Sow the seed about April 15. 

ADONIS. 

This is sometimes called '' pheasant's eye." It is a 
profuse bloomer, growing about one foot high, bearing 
bright, scarlet flowers. There is also a yellow-flowered 
sort, but it is not so pretty. 

Sow the seed in a small bed in rows three inches apart. 
In this way the weeds can be managed better. When 
the plants are large enough to handle, transplant to the 
permanent bed or border. Sow the seed about March 15. 

AGERATUM. 

The cultivated varieties are from Mexico and the 
southwest part of the United States. The different col- 
ors are blue, rose, and white. They are all pretty, and 
are suitable for the border. 



8 Floweks, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

The seed should be sown in March in a hotbed, in 
three-inch-wide rows, and transplanted in the border 
when danger of frost has passed. 

ALYSSUM. 

This is a free-flowering plant of great utility, is popu- 
lar with every one, is easy to grow, and does well on any 
sort of soil. The flowers are in small white clusters and 
very fragrant, and are much used in making up bouquets 
and other floral work. 

Alyssum of the little-gem type is used as a border for 
beds, as it is very compact and always a solid mass of 
white bloom. For borders, it should be planted about 
three inches apart, or sow a row of seed where the plants 
are wanted. Self-sown seed in the fall will come up in 
the spring, withstanding considerable frost. 

AMARANTHUS (LOVE LIES BLEEDING). 

This family of plants are rather coarse, and are more 
appropriately used with large foliage plants in making 
up varicolored lawn beds. The most common of this 
plant grows about six feet high, has red stems, and every 
branch terminates in a deep-red raceme of flowers that 
droops very gracefully for a foot or more. Another va- 
riety that is really beautiful is known as "Joseph's coat." 
A full-grown plant of this variety will have deep-green 
leaves at the bottom, brown a little farther up, orange 
above that, and at the top a beautiful lemon-yellow color, 
sometimes almost pure white. 

Any kind of soil will grow these plants, but in rich 
soil they grow much larger. Sow the seed in the place 
they are to grow, and thin out to two or three plants 
unless they have a bed to themselves, then leave one 
every eight or ten inches apart. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 9 

AMBROSIA. 

This plant does not lay any claim to beauty, but lays 
much stress on its delightful odor, all its own. It grows 
upright about one foot high, with foliage that very much 
resembles small oak leaves. When in bloom, it has 
long, slender spikes of what appears to be green seeds, 
but in reality are the flowers. When dried and placed 
among clothing, it renders a very pleasant odor for a 
long time. 

This plant is not particular as to soil. Sow the seed 
anywhere at any time, and it will grow, often coming up 
the next spring from self-sown seed. 

AMMOBIUM. 

This is classed with the everlastings, and is used in 
making up dried winter bouquets. It grows about eight- 
een inches high, with stiff, angular stems. 

The variety known as "Alatum Grandiflorum " is the 
best, as it produces an enormous quantity of white flow- 
ers. 

SNAPDRAGON. 

One of the most attractive of the old garden flowers. 
There is quite a variety of this plant — some dwarf, some 
medium, and others as tall as two feet; but all bearing 
beautiful spikes of bloom of many colors — yellow, scar- 
let, white, purple, etc. 

Where the frost does not penetrate the soil more than 
an inch or two, this plant will be renewed the next spring 
from the old root. Although it is classed as an annual, 
in mild climates it proves to be a perennial. 

Sow in a cold frame during the first of April and trans- 
plant to the border about April 15. 



10 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

ARNEBIA. 

This grows about two feet high, blooming the whole 
summer. It is a very strong grower. The flowers are 
primrose yellow, with a black spot in the center. 

Sow the seed in a cold frame in March ; and when three 
or four inches high, set in the border about April 20. 

ASPERULA, SWEET WOODRUFF. 

Asperula is a profuse bloomer, with clusters of small, 
sweet-scented flowers. It is a native of partially shaded 
situations. The dried fl.owers impart an agreeable odor, 
and are sometimes placed among clothing when stored 
away. 

Sow the seed in April in the border where the plants 
are to remain. The plant grows about one foot high. 

ASTERS. 

These are among the most beautiful and important of 
the summer and early autumn flowers. They will do 
well in any good soil. They have been known to do well 
in red clay when there was rain enough to keep the soil 
moist ; but when grown in good soil, they will repay any 
extra labor that may be bestowed by a more sturdy 
growth, with more and finer blooms. They should be 
planted in a sunny situation north of Kentucky, but will 
do well in partial shade farther South, in rather heavy 
clay loam, into which has been worked a goodly propor- 
tion of well-rotted stable manure ; and if there is any air- 
slacked lime about, scatter that on the land, and fork it 
in also, as the aster prefers a slightly alkaline soil. 

Sow the seed about the first of May in the border ; and 
when large enough to handle, transplant to any place 
required. Pour a little water around the roots, and press 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. H 

the soil around firmly; and if the weather is hot, shade 
in the middle of the day for four or five days. They can 
be set eight or ten inches each way in a bed. Allow no 
weeds ; cultivate every ten days ; and when about ten 
inches high, cover the ground about four inches deep 
with straw or leaves to keep the moisture from evapo- 
rating in the hot summer weather and also to keep down 
weeds. 

BACHELOR'S BUTTONS, OR GLOBE 
AMARANTH. 

The Globe Amaranth is classed with the everlastings, 
and can be cut and dried for winter flowers. 

Sow the seed in May. They will grow in the poorest 
soil, even when too dry to grow weeds. The colors 
range from white to red and purple. 

BALSAM, OR LADY'S SLIPPER. 

This is a fine old plant that has been greatly improved 
lately, ranging in colors from white to red and purple, 
blooming freely. 

Sow the seed in early May where they can be trans- 
planted twice to insure more and finer bloom. Plants 
should be grown in rich soil. They are of the easiest 
culture. 

BROWALLIA. 

This is one of the best bedding plants that we have. 
It is covered with blue or white flowers all summer. 
The Browallias grow freely in any rich soil. 

Sow the seed in a window box in late March or early 
April and transplant to the open ground the first of May. 
They grow about fifteen inches tall. 



12 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

CALENDULA, CAPE MARIGOLD. 

The marigolds are of the easiest cultivation, succeed 
everywhere and bloom continually. The flowers are of 
the finest glowing colors of sulphur yellow, golden yel- 
low, and orange yellow; very double, and will thrive in 
any ordinary soil. 

Sow the seed in March in the open ground where they 
are to grow. 

CALLIOPSIS. 

Calliopsis makes a quick growth. It has beautiful 
foliage, being one of our brightest and best summer 
bloomers, there being several variations of color in the 
bloom, gold and maroon being the prevailing colors. 

Sow the seed in April where the plants are to remain. 
They grow about three feet high. 

CANDYTUFT. 

The Candytuft is a very desirable plant, easy to grow, 
and is much used in making up floral designs, bouquets, 
etc. It grows best in a cool, damp situation, where the 
strong evening sun does not shine directly on the plants. 
Any garden soil will grow this plant. 

Sow the seed in March for summer use, and in August 
for fall. It does well in solid beds or mixed with other 
plants. Set eight or ten inches each way. The colors 
are from white to deep red. 

CELOSIA, OR COCKSCOMB. 

This showy plant of many forms is of the easiest cul- 
ture and is one of the most brilliant of the summer and 
fall bloomers. The flowers are in great masses of va- 
rious forms. The colors are most striking — vivid red 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 13 

and crimson, yellow, orange, and pure white. A rich 
soil and plenty of moisture are requisites to best results. 
Sow the seed in the open about the middle of April. 
They are easily transplanted when small, and can be 
scattered in the border; or when in a mass in a bed, they 
make a dazzling display when in full bloom. 

CENTAUREA, OR CORNFLOWER. 

This plant is also called '' bluet," " bluebottle," and 
'" ragged sailor." Within the last few years much im- 
provement has been made in this plant. The Centaurea 
is very easily grown, and will thrive and bloom even 
among the weeds ; but when grown in masses and culti- 
vated, it makes a fine display and is very useful in bou- 
quets. 

These plants will do well in any soil or situation. 
Sow the seed in March where they are to remain, and 
thin out to about ten inches each way. The plants that 
have been pulled out may be transplanted and will bloom 
later. 

COSMOS. 

One of the notable autumn flowers is the Cosmos. It 
is a strong grower, about five feet high. Its bold flow- 
ers are exquisitely beautiful, and the effect is heightened 
by the graceful, feathery green foliage. Cosmos shows 
up best when planted in masses or used as a border in 
front of evergreen trees or fences. 

Seed should be sown in April about where they are to 
remain unless early bloom is wanted ; then the seed must 
be sown in window boxes in March. To insure early 
bloom, pinch off the tops when the plants are two feet 
high. 

Cosmos does well in any soil. The long-stemmed 



14 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

bloom of these plants makes them desirable for tall 
vases, and they keep well when cut. 

DIANTHUS, OR PINKS. 

Pinks are among our most satisfactory flowers. They 
can be had in flower the entire summer when seed are 
sown early in window boxes. They are unsurpassed for 
color and fragrance. Seedlings are easily transplanted, 
and should be set about eight or nine inches apart. For 
the best results, plant in rich soil. These plants will live 
through the winter and will bloom much better the sec- 
ond year. 

FEVERFEW, OR PYRETHRUM. 

A very pretty plant, whether in bloom or not. The 
foliage very much resembles a short-leaved fern, and the 
blossoms are white and yellow in great profusion all 
summer. It is much used for bouquets. It will grow 
in any good soil. 

Sow the seed in April or early May. 

FOUR-O'CLOCK, OR MARVEL OF PERU. 

This is a well-known and much-admired flower, pro- 
ducing a mass of bloom every evening and all summer 
long. The colors are white, yellow, crimson, striped, 
and variegated. Plant the seed in April. 

This plant is of a gross nature, attaining a height of 
two feet and as much across, and is more suitable for a 
low hedge to cover unsightly places. Any soil will suit 
this plant. 

MARGUERITE CARNATIONS. 

We regard these as the best of the so-called " pinks," 
especially for the open garden. The Marguerite Carna- 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 15 

tions will bloom in a few weeks from the time the seed 
is sown, and is the most prolific bloomer of the whole 
group of pinks. The plants are strong, compact, and 
dwarf in habit, being easy to manage, and make the best 
of bedding plants. Not being perfectly hardy, they may 
be protected with litter in the winter. They make good 
window plants. 

For most satisfactory results, sow the seed every 
spring to get more healthy plants. 

The flowers are over two inches across and are de- 
lightfully fragrant. There are several colors, including 
rose, scarlet, yellow, white, etc. 

For very early bloom, plant the seed in the window 
box in March and sow in the garden in April. They will 
do nicely in good garden soil, and heavy clay soil will 
produce plenty of rich-colored bloom. 

MIGNONETTE. 

The flower garden would hardly be complete without 
this delightfully sweet plant. There are hundreds of 
more showy flowers in cultivation, but this little plant 
has won its way into the hearts of all flower lovers 
strictly on its merits. The bloom is insignificant, but the 
perfume is ideal. 

Sow the seed in the garden as soon as the land can be 
prepared in March or April. Good garden soil will suf- 
fice. The plant will spread over one foot, producing 
many spikes of bloom. If wanted for window culture, 
sow the seed in large pots or boxes at any time, as the 
plants will soon be in bloom and remain so for a long 
time. The more the bloom is removed, the more it will 
bloom. 



16 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

NASTURTIUM. 

The Nasturtium is most easily grown, and makes a 
most excellent bedding plant. The foliage is very 
smooth and glossy, of various shades of green, gold, 
bronze, and purple. The flowers are variously colored — 
sulphur yellow, yellow, gold, orange, scarlet red, and 
maroon. 

Plant the seed the last of April. If a bed is required, 
plant the seed seven or eight inches each way. They 
will soon cover the ground, the flowers will soon appear, 
and there will be about as many flowers as leaves. This 
plant seems to have no insect enemies and can be grown 
in poor or thin soil. 

The climbing Nasturtium grows six or seven feet high, 
and requires the same treatment as the dwarf, but should 
be trained to a trellis. 

PANSIES. 

Pansies thrive best in cool, moist weather, making 
their finest blooms in spring and fall. When grown 
through the summer, they should be set where the sun 
will not shine on them after noonday. If treated thus 
and planted in very rich soil and given plenty of water, 
a quantity of the most beautiful bloom can be had. 
Every color but red is reproduced in the pansy. 

Sow the seed in March in the garden. The plants 
should be five or six inches apart for good results. Or 
for early spring blooming, sow in window boxes in No- 
vember or December and plant in the garden in March. 

PETUNIAS. 

The Petunia is one of the most reliable bedding plants 
w^e have. Neither heat, cold, wet, nor drought appears 



Flowers, Fbuits, Vegetabuss, Etc. 17 

to interfere with its welfare. It blooms almost from the 
starting of the seed, and is a continuous mass of flowers 
until freezing weather cuts it down. There are few 
plants that can compete with the Petunia in beauty of 
color and markings, and the faint odor after sunset is 
delightful. 

Sow the seed in March. A light frost does not kill 
the plants. It is well to pinch off the tops often to in- 
duce new growth to keep the plants in better flowering 
condition. This plant will grow in any soil, but will 
grow very rank in rich ground. When used in a solid 
bed, the plants should be about five or six inches apart. 

POPPIES. 

Some authorities will tell you how to cultivate Pop- 
pies. They really need no cultivation, as they will grow 
and thrive on the roadside, in weeds, or on the lawn in 
the grass, and, when once sown, will come up volunteer 
year after year, their beautiful crimson blossoms waving 
in bold relief against the green sod. There is an almost 
endless range of shades of color, from pure white to 
deepest crimson, with all manner of markings and varie- 
gations, and from single to the most compact double. 

The seed should be sown in February or March where 
the plants are to remain. 

PORTULACA. 

This is a most beautiful plant when in full bloom, hav- 
ing many most charming colors and shades of pink, red, 
scarlet, light and dark yellow, white, and variations ; in 
both single and double. It is fine for window boxes. 

Sow the seed from March to May. They will grow in 
any good soil. 



18- Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

STOCKS. 

All of this family are deliciously sweet-scented, and 
by many are quite a favorite. The blooms are borne in 
large clusters, and some of the varieties will produce in 
these clusters single florets that will measure over two 
inches across. Stocks do better when grown in a situ- 
ation where the afternoon sun does not shine. They like 
a cool place, and should have rich soil and plenty of wa- 
ter. 

Sow seed for early plants in the window box in March, 
and for a later crop in April out of doors. 



SWEET PEAS. 

These are one of the most popular of our annuals. 
The specialist in late years has produced larger and love- 
lier flowers than ever before. They are often grown in 
clumps and in separate colors. There are many colors 
and shades — pink, red, blue, purple, salmon, and all of 
the intermediate shades — and the odor cannot be ex- 
celled. 

The soil should be rich, deep, and moist. Sow the 
seed thickly in a double row about eight inches between, 
having broken the soil about ten inches deep. Cover the 
seed one inch deep, and spread one inch deep of well- 
rotted manure over the rows. When working the peas 
every eight or ten days, the manure will be mixed with 
the soil where it will do the most good. When the 
plants get four inches high, stick brush three feet high 
between the rows so the vines can climb on it. 

Sweet Peas are often sown in October, but are some- 
times winter killed. We sow them in February or 
March with good results. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 19 

VERBENA. 

To have early plants to set in the bed or border, they 
should be started in a window box, the seed to be sown 
in March ; and for a later crop, sow the seed in the 
ground in i\pril. Verbenas raised from seed are usu- 
ally sweet-scented, and are much finer in every respect. 
Plant about ten or twelve inches each way when in a 
solid bed. The colors range through red, scarlet, crim- 
son, purple, white, and some are variegated in a most 
remarkable manner. Plant in good soil, and cover the 
bed about one inch deep with old rotted manure or leaf 
mold. If ready-to-bloom bedding plants are wanted, 
they should be procured from a florist. 

ZERANTHEMUM. 

A beautiful, free-flowering plant, growing about one 
foot high', is the Zeranthemum. When the blooms are 
well developed, cut them with long stems and dry them 
for winter bouquets. They retain their color indefi- 
nitely and are known as everlastings. The flowers are 
large, globe-shaped. The colors are white, yellow, and 
purple. The seed germinate easily when planted in the 
open ground in April or May. They will do best in rich 
soil. 

ZEA JAPONICA, ORNAMENTAL GRASS. 

This is a Japanese variegated corn, showing four col- 
ors — white, red, green, and pink. It makes a fine effect 
as a center for a large flower bed or an individual plant 
on the lawn, and may be used as a background for other 
plants of darker colors. 

The seed may be planted in the ground in rich soil in 
April or early in May. 



20 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

ZINNIA. 

There seems to be no end to the colors and shading 
of the Zinnia, and it blooms in profusion all through the 
season, there being nothing more attractive than a large, 
well-kept bed of this flower. Some have single and oth- 
ers double blooms. 

There will be no trouble to find suitable soil for Zin- 
nias, as they will grow anywhere. They will do remark- 
ably well in hard red clay. 

Sow in April, and thin out to eight or nine inches each 
way. As they will transplant easily, fill up the gaps 
where missing, pouring a little water in the hole when 
planting, or, better still, plant in rainy weather. 

PHLOX DRUMMONDII. 

There is nothing better for bedding purposes than 
Phlox Drummondii. These splendid half-dwarf annual 
phloxes cannot be too much praised for beauty. The 
plants are always covered with large flowers of the most 
beautiful colors, growing about ten inches high. They 
do well everywhere, and are in great favor with every 
one for bedding on the lawn, and look nice with a general 
mixture of plants. It is best to treat them as annuals. 
They come quickly into bloom from seed and continue 
until killed by frost. The colors range from deep red to 
pure white. Some of the newer sorts show light-yellow 
tints. 

Sow the seed in April in good soil. 



In the preceding we have given you a list of what we 
thought would be the most useful and at the same time 
the most easy plants to handle. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 21 

There are hundreds of plants mentioned in the cata- 
logues, and new ones are being introduced every year, 
from which you can try your ability as a grower of new 
species. 

What we have already given you in the flower line 
were annuals, or plants of which the seed is to be sown 
every year. 

LOBELIA. 

This tribe of plants includes various habits of growth. 
Some grow erect, with stiff stems ; but the most graceful 
are the dwarf forms, which are most suitable for swing- 
ing baskets, garden vases, etc. The colors are the most 
beautiful shades of blue, and there is also white, and one 
variety is scarlet. 

GAILLARDIA. 

Gaillardias are perennials in warmer latitudes, but to 
be on the safe side it is better to sow the seed each 
spring. They are among the most showy of the bedding 
plants. They bloom constantly all summer and fall un- 
til frost cuts them down. They look fine made up in 
bouquets and for house decoration. 

Sow the seed thinly in a large bed, and do not thin 
them out. In that way they will do well and will make 
more flowers. Plant in a rich soil in a sunny place, and 
you will have something to delight the eye all through 
the season. They grow about two feet high and have 
a daisylike bloom about two inches across, and are all 
shades of red, orange, and yellow, with variations. 

HELIOTROPE. 

This is one of the most delightfully perfumed flowers 
that we have. It grows easily from seed sown in April 
or May, and is soon in bloom. If planted in rich, moist 



22 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

soil, it will continue to bloom until frost; and if placed 
in a large pot or box, it will bloom nearly all winter in a 
room where no frost enters. There are all shades from 
deep purple to pure white. 

PERIWINKLE, OR VINCA. 

This is a very satisfactory plant for making lawn beds. 
When massed together in beds, they are so uniform in 
size that the bed often appears to have been clipped, and 
the flowers are so freely produced that there is never a 
time when there is not a generous supply of bloom ; but 
the best recommendation for the Vinca is the fact that 
it always thrives in good soil, whether there is drought 
or plenty of rain. 

The flowers are about one and one-half inches in diam- 
eter — pink, with a purple eye, and white, with a pink 
eye — growing about twelve inches high. 

Sow the seed in the garden in April, and transplant in 
the border in May. 

FORGET-ME-NOT. 

The Forget-Me-Not is one of the daintiest of all the 
garden flowers. The flowerets are small, a beautiful light 
blue, with a white center, borne in clusters. This has 
always been a favorite with every one, and is much used 
with cut flowers. 

Sow in March in the window box, and plant out about 
April 20 in some place where the sun will not shine on 
it very much, as this plant is partial to a cool, rich place. 

HYBISCUS. 

Our common Althea is a hardy variety of Hybiscus. 
Of the many varieties, some are hardy, some are half 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 23 

hardy, and others are tender and will not stand frost. 
Of the latter, the Chinese is the most beautiful, having 
flowers four and five inches across, both single and dou- 
ble flowering, and of lovely satiny shades of deep crim- 
son, red, pink, and white. 

These will grow in the garden, but should be potted 
and placed indoors before a freeze comes. They are gen- 
erally used as tub plants on the veranda or on the lawn. 
The single sorts usually die down to the ground in the 
fall, but come from the root the next season. They are 
known as the African varieties. Still others have to be 
started from seed each spring. They all make fine 
hedges for summer use, and a large bed of these plants 
gives to a lawn a grand effect. 

Start the seed in a box in the house in March or early 
April and plant in the open in rich soil about the first 
of May, and they will bloom the same year. 

PHLOX (PERENNIAL). 

The hardy Phlox is becoming one of the most popu- 
lar plants in the flower garden. Such improvement has 
been made in the last few years that some of the indi- 
vidual flowers will easily cover a fifty-cent piece, and 
there is every shade, from deep red down to pure white, 
also light and dark scarlet and violet tints. 

The seed of this Phlox should be sown in rows in a 
small bed in the garden in rich soil. Cover the seed one- 
half inch deep. The seed often do not germinate read- 
ily when kept dry over winter, and on that account they 
should be sown late in the fall or in December, so that 
they will be frozen as nature requires. They will then 
come up better. 

Plant hardy Phlox in a partly shaded place, as the 



24 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

midsummer sun dries them up and they will not do so 
well. They require rich sandy soil. Set them about 
twelve inches each way when made into a bed, and cover 
the ground with well-rotted manure or old rotted leaves. 
If the tops of the shoots are pinched off when they are a 
few inches high, they will make shoots all down the 
stems and make more bloom and the plants will be more 
stocky. The surest and most satisfactory method would 
be to buy the plants from a florist. 

SCABIOSA. 

The Scabiosas are among the very finest bedding 
plants that we have. There is a wide range of colors 
and tints among these plants. Some produce the deep- 
est purple bloom imaginable ; some, white ; others, vivid 
red, orange, and golden yellow. They are also very 
showy when mixed with other plants in the border. 
They have long, wiry stems, and work in well with 
bunches of cut flowers and in vases. 

Scabiosas do fine in ordinary garden soil ; and if grown 
exclusively in a bed, sow the seed thinly and cover about 
one-half inch deep, and do not thin them out; they will 
take care of themselves if the weeds are kept down. 

The seed may be sown about April 10. 



CLIMBERS, OR VINES (ANNUALS). 

BALSAM APPLE. 

The Balsam Apple has a very ornamental foliage, and 
is a very graceful vine for trellis ; and as it will grow over 
ten feet high, it makes a fine porch screen. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 25 

The fruits are very attractive when ripening, being a 
beautiful deep yellow. When they split open, the seed 
are seen within and are a beautiful scarlet. This vine 
will grow in any soil. Plant the seed in April where 
they are to grow, and place twine or wire for it to climb. 

THUNBERGIA, OR BLACK-EYED SUSAN. 

This is a very attractive vine when in full bloom, hav- 
ing a most distinct and refined aspect. It is one of the 
old favorites, and is excellent for trellises, vases, and 
rustic work. The flowers are orange, buff, white, etc., 
with a beautiful deep-brown center, from which it takes 
its name of " Black- Eyed Susan." In very rich soil this 
vine will climb as much as twelve feet, but nearly all the 
seedmen claim about five or six feet. 

Plant the seed about April 15. 

BRYONOPSIS. 

The Bryonopsis is really a gourd, but the foliage very 
much resembles the ivy. It is a most desirable vine for 
arbors and trellises and as a screen for porches and un- 
sightly premises. The growth is very rapid, and will 
soon reach as high as twenty feet. The fruits, when 
ripe, are red, with white markings, and show up beauti- 
fully among the light-green leaves. They flourish best 
in rich soil. 

Plant the seed about the middle of April. Work the 
ground around the plants until they are a foot high, so 
that the weeds will not smother them before they get a 
start. At the last working place about two inches deep 
of stable manure about one foot wide about the roots to 
keep the ground moist and to fertilize them. 



26 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

COB^A SCANDENS. 

This is a very rapid grower, making as much as thirty 
feet in a summer, bearing a wealth of beautiful bell- 
shaped flowers about two inches across. It is fine for 
training over unsightly objects or for training over per- 
golas, windmills, etc. 

A peculiar feature about planting the seed is that they 
must be set on edge and very lightly covered, not over 
one-fourth of an inch deep. If laid flat, they will hardly 
come up at all. Any good soil will grow this vine. The 
seed may be started in a window box the first of March 
in a sunny room, and set in the ground the first of May. 

Cobsea Scandens bears both white and purple flowers. 

CONVOLVULUS. 

This is what our grandmothers called " Morning- 
Glories," and have always been great favorites every- 
where on account of their rapid growth and most beauti- 
ful flowers, producing the most charming tints of violet, 
purple, rose, pink, and white in the greatest profusion. 
They begin to bloom when only a few feet high and con- 
tinue all through the season until killed by frost. They 
are excellent for covering trellises, outhouses, old fences, 
porches, and are beautiful when growing over rockeries. 

CYPRESS VINE. 

This is one of the most graceful vines imaginable, with 
its stems clothed with a beautiful feathery foliage and 
profusely spangled with intensely bright flowers that 
shine like stars against the bright-green foliage. As 
this is not dense enough for shade and is grown for its 
beauty, it should be trained on fences or a light trellis 
about ten feet high. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 27 

Sow the seed in April in any good soil. There are 
white, pink, and crimson colors. 

MOONFLOWER. 

The Moonflower is a near relative to the Morning- 
Glory; but many of them are late about blooming when 
the seed are planted in the garden, and should, therefore, 
be started in the window box about the first of April, to 
be planted out the first of May. They are all tender, and 
those that make tubers can be wintered in a dry cellar, 
and will grow rapidly the next spring and be in bloom 
in a few weeks. The colors are white, rose, lavender, 
and blue. They should be grown in rich soil. Plants 
can be bought from any of the florists. 

HYACINTH BEAN. 

There are several kinds of this bean. One of them is 
the old Crimson Runner. They are very rapid-growing 
vines, and are very satisfactory for screens in front of 
porches and windows. The flowers are of various shades 
of color — white, purple, and red. The flowers are in 
clusters, resembling pea blooms, and have a delightful 
odor. 

The beans should be planted the last week in April. 
They will thrive in any kind of soil. 

GOURDS. 

The old well-known and useful Dipper Gourd has 
many allies — such as the Sugar Trough, Nest Egg, etc. — 
some holding as much as ten gallons, with a number of 
strange and beautifully colored and marked sorts. The 
Dipper and ornamental sorts can be grown on arbors, 
trees, fences, and sheds. The Sugar Trough must be 



28 Flowers, Fetjits, Vegetables, Etc. 

grown on the ground and the fruit encouraged to stand 
square on the blossom end to make it as symmetrical as 
possible. 

The seed of the Dipper Gourd must be started in 
March to mature the fruit before frost. The Sugar 
Trough Gourd can be planted about the middle of April ; 
and to grow very large fruit, allow only one fruit to the 
vine. Plant in very rich soil, and cover the ground one 
inch deep with rotten manure. This gourd does best on 
the ground. 



PERENNIALS. 

Plants That Live Year After Year After Being 
Propagated from Seeds or Cuttings. 

ALTHEA. 

Altheas are suitable for hedges and as individual 
plants or for grouping in the lawn. There are many 
colors of bloom, both double and single flowers. The 
plants are as hardy as an oak, will grow anywhere, and 
are grown from seed or cuttings placed where they are 
to grow. Place the cuttings in November. 

ANEMONES. 

The Anemones are very attractive, producing their 
pretty flowers year after year. Some of the flowers are 
three inches across, on stems two feet high, and are fine 
for cutting, for vases, and make good house plants for 
winter bloom. Some varieties bloom the first year from 
seed. The colors are scarlet, blue, and white. 

Anemones are grown from seed, but it is preferable to 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 29 

purchase roots from the seedmen. This plant is hardy 
everywhere and will grow in any soil. 

ANTHEMIS, YELLOW CHAMOMILE. 

It is also called " Hardy Marguerite/' and is one of 
the most satisfactory of the summer flowering peren- 
nials. It is always in bloom, of a bushy habit, about 
twelve inches high, with golden-yellow flowers of daisy- 
like form. It is propagated from seed sown in April or 
from cuttings or division of the old plants made in April 
or May or gotten from a florist. 

COLUMBINE. 

The Columbine is an old-fashioned perennial, one 
of the best of the early summer flowering plants. The 
flowers are rather odd, but very attractive, and are borne 
in profusion well above the leaves. The foliage itself is 
very attractive, and retains its freshness all summer. 
There are several shades of blue, red, lilac, yellow, and 
white. It is easily grown from seed planted in Novem- 
ber or in March. 

Columbine does best in a damp, rich soil. 

CAMPANULA, OR CANTERBURY BELLS. 

Campanulas are beautiful plants, much used in mak- 
ing large beds on lawns, and they make a fine display as 
a single specimen grown with other flowers. They are 
rich in colors (blue, white, and pink are the leading 
shades), profuse in bloom, and easy to grow. 

Campanula seed should be sown in the garden in June, 
and the next spring should be transplanted to the bed 
where they are to bloom. Be sure to make the ground 
wet enough so as to take them up with a ball of wet 



30 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

earth, and set them in the bed without breaking the ball. 
Pour water in the hole and pack the earth close one foot 
each way. If convenient, cover the seedlings in the cold- 
est weather with cedar brush or an old sash, and they 
will do much better. They are hardy; but if not pro- 
tected in severe weather, some will get killed. They do 
best in rich soil. They grow from one to two feet high. 

STOKESIA CYANEA, CORNFLOWER ASTER. 

This is a hardy plant, bearing lovely light-blue flow- 
ers from June until August. They are fine for making 
up bouquets and other cut-flower work. 

Stokesias do well in any good garden soil. Sow the 
seed in March or April. The plants grow about one foot 
high, and should be about one foot each way when made 
into a solid bed. We would advise getting the plants 
from a florist. 

COWSLIP. 

The old-fashioned Yellow Cowslip is one of the earliest 
flowers to bloom, putting out its beautiful yellow clus- 
ters of flowers in April, at a time when the earliest flow- 
ers are fading. They always show to the best advan- 
tage when used as a border along the walk or driveway. 
They are usually increased by division of the old plants, 
but can be grown from seed sown in the latter part of 
March or early April. 

The Cowslip will grow in poor land, but will do better 
in good garden soil. They grow about six inches high, 
about twelve inches across, when well grown. 

DAISY, BELLIS. 

Double Daisies are much in favor for edging along 
flower borders, blooming freely from April until June or 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 31 

July. They grow only about six or seven inches high, 
and the blossoms are of charming shades of rose, pink, 
and white. 

The seed should be started in the window box in Feb- 
ruary or March, and transplanted to the border as soon 
as they are large enough to handle. They will stand 
considerable cold and not be injured. They should be 
grown in rich, moist soil. A few planted in a half-shady, 
cool place will bloom later than those in full sunlight. 

FOXGLOVE. 

The Foxglove shows up well when planted among 
shrubbery, and does about as well in the open. It pro- 
duces long sprays of beautiful flowers on stems three 
feet high, the colors being rose, purple, yellow, white, 
etc. It is perfectly hardy, and appears to improve with 
age. 

Sow the seed in March or April in the garden; and 
when large enough to handle, transplant to the place 
they are to remain. These plants will thrive best in 
rich soil. 

PAMPAS GRASS. 

A magnificent ornamental plant that comes to us from 
South America is Pampas Grass. There is no other 
grass that gives so grand an efifect on the lawn as this. 
When the plumes have matured, the plant stands about 
nine feet high. It blooms the second year from seed. 
If an immediate effect is required, buy the plants from 
a nursery. The plumes are white, with a beautiful sil- 
very sheen, and are much used in making up winter 
bouquets and other decorations. The bunch of grass 
should be mashed down to the ground about December 
20 and covered with ten or twelve inches of straw, and 



32 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

about the middle of April it should be cut off level with 
the sod. 

EULALIA GRASS. 

The Eulalia Zebrina is a most desirable ornamental 
grass for lawns. Be they small or large, the blades of 
grass are barred across in a most pleasing manner with 
green and yellow, and late in the season the plant throws 
up several graceful plumes that can be mixed in with 
winter bouquets with good effect. 

A Eulalia plant, when not in seed, grows about five 
feet high. Plants are grown from division of the roots 
or from seed, which should be sown in April, and will 
grow in any soil. It is as hardy as an oak. 

Eulalia Striata is striped white and green ; otherwise 
the same. 

GOLDEN GLOW. 

This is one of the best yellow flowers that has been 
introduced in many years, being a favorite with every 
one. It dies down to the ground after frost; but being 
hardy, it comes up from the root again in the spring, 
and is in full bloom from June until September, pro- 
ducing a great quantity of very double yellow bloom 
three inches across. The plant grows about seven feet 
high. It should be grown in good soil from plants ob- 
tained from the nursery. 

HOLLYHOCK. 

These old-fashioned, stately plants are most striking 
when planted in groups or in long rows in front of shrub- 
bery, etc., or they may be used as a background for other 
plants that are of a lower habit. They have a great 
range of colors and shades, and are both double and sin- 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 33 

gle. The colors run through white, red, rose, yellow, 
lavender, and nearly black. 

The Hollyhock will live through several years, but 
young plants produce the best bloom. Sow the seed 
where the plants are to grow, in rich soil. The seed 
can be planted in September or in March. They will 
grow and bloom whether thinned out or not. 



LAVANDULA VERA, FLOWERING LAVENDER. 

The Flowering Lavender is a sweet-scented, shrubby 
plant, growing about thirty inches high and producing 
small blue flowers, useful to place among clothing, usu- 
ally in sachet form, giving a very pleasant and lasting 
odor. It is hardy, and will thrive in almost any kind of 
soil. 

The seed should be sown in the open in April. 



MIMULUS, MONKEY FLOWER. 

These are profuse blooming plants, producing hand- 
some flowers in various colors — such as maroon, crim- 
son, pink, yellow, and white — with spots and blotches. 
The Mimulus will grow in any soil; all it requires is a 
damp, partly shaded situation. 

Sow the seed in a moist place (not wet) in the garden 
in March or April. Press the seed down firmly with a 
brick after placing less than one-fourth of an inch of 
sifted coal ashes on them. They will bear careful trans- 
planting. Remove with a ball of earth if possible. In 
selecting seed, choose the hardy varieties. As they re- 
quire careful handling when starting the seedlings, we 
would advise getting the plants from a florist. 
2 



34 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

MONK'S HOOD, ACONITUM. 

Aconite produces an abundance of oddly formed flow- 
ers. The colors are blue and white. The flower stalks 
grow as tall as three feet. These plants will grow in any 
garden soil. 

Sow the seed in the garden in February, March, or 
April. Cover the seed lightly with sandy soil or sifted 
coal ashes. 

Aconite is hardy. 

SWEET WILLIAM. 

This is an old-fashioned favorite that produces masses 
of lovely, sweet-scented flowers through a long season. 
A solid bed of Sweet William is one of the most beau- 
tiful sights imaginable. This flower will grow in any 
good garden soil. As they do not bloom the first year, 
the seed can be sown in July or August and wintered 
without protection. The plants should be set eight 
inches each way in the bed in March. The colors are 
white, pink, carmine, crimson, etc. 

VIOLETS. 

This is the old and popular Sweet Violet, blooming 
very early in the spring and also late in the autumn. 
The Single Violet is the one mostly in use on account 
of its superb flowers and delightful odor. The plant is 
so well known that a description is unnecessary here. 
The surest way to get any desired sort would be to buy 
them from a florist. 

Double blue and double white Violets are freaks and 
have little or no odor. 

Old Violet roots can be divided, and the runners can 
be used to make new plants. In either case, set the 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 35 

plants six or eight inches each way if planted in a bed; 
if planted in rows, set them eight or ten inches apart. 

Being a native of the woodlands, the Violet naturally 
delights in a cool and shady situation, with plenty of leaf 
mold. 

Place a few Violets in a cold frame ten inches deep, 
using an old sash to keep the snow and wind out, and 
you will have bloom all through the winter. 



The following are perennial climbers : 

CLEMATIS. 

Clematis has glossy, green leaves, which are an orna- 
ment in themselves ; but when in full bloom, with its 
great quantities of star-shaped and sweet-scented flow- 
ers, it would be hard to find anything more satisfactory 
for the arbor or porch screen, and will grow in the shade 
as well as in the full sunlight, and will grow in almost 
any good soil. It grows so rapidly that the old vine can 
be cut down to the ground and in a few days the new 
shoots will be several inches high. 

There are several varieties of Clematis. They are all 
hardy and very satisfactory vines. Some of them pro- 
duce great panicles of pure-white flowers that almost 
cover the plant ; others have large blooms of single indi- 
vidual flowers of pure white, lilac, rose, purple, scarlet, 
and violet, according to variety. All are of great merit 
for decorative purposes. 

JAPANESE HOP VINE. 

The Japanese Hop Vine has beautifully variegated large 
green and white leaves, and is a most admirable vine 



36 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

for a screen or trellis. It grows very rapidly, and will 
soon reach twenty to twenty-five feet high, and contin- 
ues to grow until cut down by frost. The roots are 
hardy, coming up again in the spring. The vine requires 
rich soil to grow well. 

The seed should be sown in March or April; but for 
immediate effect, get the roots from the nursery. 

JAPANESE KUDZU VINE. 

The Kudzu Vine is a beautiful climber, remarkable 
for its vigorous growth and handsome flowers. The 
blossoms are like the Wistaria, but larger. The color is 
a pleasing shade of purple. The foliage is luxuriant, re- 
sembling the leaf of a bean. The vine is extremely rapid 
in growth, making several inches in a day, and will con- 
tinue to grow until cut down by frost. The roots are 
hardy, and get stronger every year. 

Plant in good soil. This vine can be grown from seed, 
which should be planted in April. Plants can be gotten 
from a florist. 

PASSIFLORA, PASSION FLOWER. 

The Passiflora is represented by several varieties, but 
the most hardy and most satisfactory is the one called 
" Cserulea." These vines, when grown singly, do not 
give good results as a screen, but are beautiful when 
trained about a column or over a trellis, old stump, or 
on a fence. They should have good soil to do well. 

Passifloras are propagated from pieces of the roots or 
from seeds, which should be planted in March. Plants 
may be obtained from a greenhouse. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 37 

AMPELOPSIS QUINQUEFOLIA, THE 
VIRGINIA CREEPER. 

This is one of the most graceful of our native vines, 
and is most useful to cover walls, outhouses, arbors, and 
for porch screens, etc. It fastens to any surface by lit- 
tle adhesive rootlets, thereby doing away with the need 
of an artificial support. The roots or seeds should be 
planted in rich soil, and will do best on the northeast 
side of the object it is to creep on. 

The seed should be sown in the fall or in March. 

This vine is wild over a large territory in the South- 
ern States, and is often taken for Poison Oak or Poison 
Ivy, which we understand are the same; but there is a 
wide difference. The Poison Oak has but three glossy, 
deep-green leaves at a place, while the Virginia Creeper 
has five pretty light-green leaves spread out on an even 
plane. It is hardy. 

AMPELOPSIS, VEITCHII. 

This is the Japanese Ivy, also called " Boston Ivy." 
Ampelopsis was introduced into the United States from 
Japan many years ago, and has proved to be one of the 
most satisfactory of creepers. It will creep on stone or 
brick as high as sixty feet. The bloom is not conspicu- 
ous. The leaves are very graceful; and when touched 
by the frost, they change to most beautiful shades of 
bronze, and finally before shedding the leaves it is a 
mass of flaming crimson. This vine is desirable for cov- 
ering unsightly walls and other objects. It is perfectly 
hardy and appears to have no insect enemies. 

The seed can be sown along the wall about six or eight 
inches away. We would advise obtaining roots from a 
nursery to get an earlier start. 



38 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

WISTARIA, VIRGIN'S BOWER. 

The Wistaria is a hardy, shrubby climber, of great 
value for training over arbors, buildings, trees, etc. The 
blooms are produced in large panicles of purple or white 
in early spring. It is one of the most desirable of vines, 
improving year by year. 

Plant the seed in rich ground in April. It requires 
three or four years to grow a blooming vine from seed. 
We would advise procuring a plant from a nursery for 
immediate effect. 



ABUTILON, FLOWERING MAPLE. 

The Abutilon will stand more rough treatment and 
neglect than almost any other house plant. It grows 
rapidly and is soon in bloom. The leaves are very orna- 
mental, often beautifully variegated with white or yel- 
low. The flowers are bell-shaped and very graceful, of 
many colors and shades — red, orange, yellow, and white. 
They make a very desirable pot plant for the house, doing 
nicely where there is a limited supply of sunshine. This 
plant should have rich, damp soil. 

The Abutilon can be grown from seed or from cuttings 
of the green wood. The seed must be started in April 
in the window box. This plant is not hardy, but will 
keep in a room where it does not freeze. 

FUCHSIA. 

This is one of the most beautiful pot plants that we 
have. It will bloom profusely the year around. It 
grows very rapidly from seeds or from cuttings. 

Fuchsias should be grown in rich sandy loam, and 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 39 

should be placed where they will get only an hour or 
two of the morning sun, and should be well sprinkled 
over the foliage at least once each day; but they should 
not be kept wet at the roots (merely damp) for best re- 
sults. Give them a little liquid manure every two weeks. 
The seed can be started in the window box in March 
or April, but results are so uncertain that we advise get- 
ting well-established plants from a florist. 

KENILWORTH IVY. 

This is a charming little trailing plant, with small pur- 
ple flowers. It is a very pretty plant for vases, swing- 
ing baskets, rockeries, etc. 

Kenilworth Ivy is easily grown from seed sown in the 
early summer, and will grow anywhere. It is half hardy. 

The following are hardy: 

HARDY ENGLISH PRIMROSE. 

The English Primrose well deserves a place in every 
flower garden on account of its bright and cheerful as- 
pect. If given a little attention at first, it will take care 
of itself and will produce enough lovely canary-yellow 
bloom to well pay for the small amount of care required. 

Sow the seed in good garden soil in April. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

When heavy frosts come, the Chrysanthemum is the 
last to give up to the advance of the Ice King. There 
are many beautiful colors and shades in this weedy, but 
very essential, flower. White, yellow, and red are the 
primary colors. 



40 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

This plant is easily propagated from seeds, cuttings 
from the tops, and division of the roots, which should be 
done in April or early in May. The seed must be planted 
in a cool, moist place in rich soil and transplanted per- 
manently as soon as they can be handled. 

HONEYSUCKLE. 

The much-loved Honeysuckle is always a welcomed 
plant with every one, always ready to do duty as an or- 
nament on the lawn, or to hide some unsightly object, or 
acting as a screen at the veranda, and in the blooming 
season to emit the most delightful odor. Being ever- 
green, it is useful the whole year, doing well in any kind 
of soil. 

Roots should be gotten from the nursery. 

HARDY HYDRANGEA. 

The Hydrangea is about the best-known and most 
popular summer flowering shrub in cultivation. The 
flowers are produced in dense panicles a foot long in pro- 
fusion, are white at first, but gradually change to a deep 
rose color, and remain in that condition for several 
weeks. They are increased from cuttings from the green 
wood set in a moist, shady place until rooted, which will 
be from two to four weeks ; also from division of the old 
plants. 

Plants can be gotten from any nursery. 

LILAC. 

These lovely, old-fashioned shrubs are indispensable 
in all gardens. The richly perfumed and delicately 
tinted flowers are much sought in early spring for bou- 



Flowers, Fktjits, Vegetables, Etc. 41 

quets. They are commonly increased from division of 
the old roots in March or October. 

Lilacs will thrive in any ordinary soil by placing on 
the surface around the bush some old, well-rotted ma- 
nure. This must be done in November and worked into 
the soil in the spring. Well-grown plants will be eight 
feet or more in height. 

MOCK ORANGE, OR WEEPING SYRINGA. 

This is a very popular and desirable shrub, bearing a 
great quantity of pure-white bloom, very much like an 
orange flower in appearance and in perfume, blooming 
in June, requiring good soil. This plant is usually 
grown from cuttings placed in a damp place in March, 
and can be increased by dividing the roots of old bushes. 

Syringas grow about seven feet high. Plants should 
be gotten from a nursery. 

PRIVET. 

The Privet is properly a hedge plant, but can be grown 
singly or in clumps on the lawn and trimmed into all 
sorts of fantastic shapes ; and in the hands of a tasty 
trimmer, some beautiful objects can be worked out. 
These are increased by cuttings, and will grow in any 
good soil. 

There are several varieties of this shrub, some more 
dwarf than others. When used for hedges, they should 
be set from four to six inches apart and trimmed fre- 
quently to induce a dense growth. 

The nurseries can furnish this plant in large quantities. 



42 Flowers, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

FRINGE TREE. 

This is a beautiful, small ornamental tree, growing 
about ten feet high, completely covered in the blooming 
season with fringed, lacelike white flowers in the early 
summer. It is increased by cuttings. 

The plant should be obtained from the nursery for the 
best results. 

SNOWBALL. 

The Snowball is one of the best ornamental shrubs. 
It bears abundant white balls of bloom that have a beau- 
tiful setting in the deep-green foliage. 

This shrub blooms in May, and grows about eight feet 
high, the bush itself being very ornamental. It is in- 
creased by cuttings. It will grow in any soil, but does 
better when a little manure is spread about the plant. 
For immediate effect, secure two-year-old or three-year- 
old plants from the nursery. 

SPIREAS. 

The Spireas are a numerous family, of easy culture, 
that differ so in character and in size and time of bloom 
that there are varieties suited to almost every purpose. 
They are all grown from cuttings and from root divi- 
sions. The colors are red, rose, blue, pink, and white. 
All are desirable for clumps and hedge rows. They will 
grow anywhere. 

WEIGELAS. 

These are indispensable for ornamental effects. They 
thrive in any soil, are strong-growing and hardy. They 
make fine specimen plants, being very graceful, and are 
desirable for grouping and massing in front of trees and 
along driveways. The colors are rose, pink, and white. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 43 

The blooming season is May and June. They are mul- 
tiplied by cuttings in April or September if kept wet. 
The safest plan is to buy from a nursery and plant them 
in November. 

BARBERRY, THUNBERGII. 

It is sometimes called " Berberry." It is a beautiful 
plant, and is often used as a hedge shrub. The leaves 
are green in summer and red in autumn. It produces 
yellow flowers in April and May, followed by scarlet 
fruits. 

CALACANTHUS, SWEET SHRUB. 

This hardy shrub is of graceful, upright growth, and 
does well in any soil, either in shade or full sunshine. 
It has an aromatic fragrance and rich maroon flow- 
ers, with an agreeable odor similar to strawberries. The 
plant is usually increased by dividing the roots or by 
chopping the roots into small pieces and planting them 
in a row. Each piece will make a plant in a few weeks. 
This should be done in March. If plants are gotten 
from the nursery, set them out in October or November. 

CRAPE MYRTLE. 

This shrub is not planted as widely as it should be. 
It is one of the most beautiful plants we have when in 
full bloom. The blooming season is in July and Au- 
gust, at a time when most of the shrubbery is out of 
flower. When a bush is well established, it can be cut 
down to the ground in early spring, when it will make 
new growth, with double the quantity of bloom, and the 
form of the bush will be a perfect globe shape. 

There are two varieties of Crape Myrtle — white and 
pink. Both are good. As this shrub is of slow growth, 



44 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

well-grown bushes should be planted to get immediate 
effect. Plant in October or February. 

In the extreme South this shrub grows to the dimen- 
sions of a small tree. 

DEUTZIAS. 

This is a profuse flowering family of shrubs, hardy, 
and will grow in any soil. There is nothing more use- 
ful for shrubberies than the various types of the Deut- 
zias. They also make a nice show when planted in 
groups on the lawn. The plants are increased from cut- 
tings of the new wood taken in September and October 
and placed in a row in the open ground in a protected 
situation, covering thinly with leaves or straw on the 
approach of winter. 

Most of the Deutzias have beautiful flowers, mostly 
single, bell-shaped, and drooping; some are double, and 
range in tints from red to pure white, blooming in the 
spring. 

TAMARIX. 

The Tamarix is a shrub of slender but strong growth, 
graceful, very much resembling the foliage of asparagus. 
The small flowers are in masses all over the smaller 
branches, giving a charming effect in bright rose or red. 
The Tamarix is hardy in the most Northern States with 
no protection, and will grow in any ordinary soil. Get 
strong plants from the nursery and plant them out in 
October or November. 

APOIS TUBEROSA, TUBEROUS-ROOTED 
WISTARIA. 

This is a very desirable twining vine, and is very much 
like the purple-flowered Virgin's Bower both in leaf and 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 45 

bloom. It grows to a height of eight or ten feet. It 
dies to the ground at the approach of winter. The flow- 
ers have a delicious violet fragrance. This plant does 
best from division of the roots for early effect, and 
thrives best in rich soil. 

PLATYCODON, CHINESE BELLFLOWER. 

It is also known as the " Tuberous-Rooted Clematis." 
It is not a climber, but a low-growing herbacious plant, 
with fine, showy foliage and beautiful bell-shaped flow- 
ers of white and a deep violet blue. It blooms freely 
and continuously. It is increased by cuttings and by 
division of the roots. It will grow in any situation, but 
should be planted in rich soil. 

The plant is suitable for lawns, mixed beds, or pots, 
and can be had of the florist. 

CRINUM. 

The Crinums are plants of great beauty, very much 
res-embling lilies, but send up stalks like an Amaryllis 
and produce from twelve to twenty-four white flowers, 
with pink or carmine stripes through each petal. They 
are more suited to pot culture than for the open ground ; 
but when planted in the open in a rich sandy loam, they 
do remarkably well. They must be planted four inches 
deep from the top of the bulb. When grown in pots, fill 
the pot to within one inch of the top with rich sandy 
loam; set the bulb on top of the soil, and set in some 
dark place until the roots have penetrated several inches 
deep, when the pot may be set in full light. Keep the 
soil moist. 

We have grown Crinums out of doors in the South 
with very satisfactory results. One plant was noted 



46 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

that put up seven stalks, some of the stalks having as 
many as thirteen large flowers. 

GLADIOLUS. 

The Gladiolus are among the most gorgeous of sum- 
mer flowers. For best results, they should be grown in 
a sunny place in good sandy loam. If they have to be 
planted in clay loam, scatter a little well-rotted manure 
on the surface after planting, and they will do very well. 
The first planting can be made on April 15; and for a 
succession of bloom, plant every two or three weeks un- 
til the end of July. When planting a quantity of bulbs, 
set them three inches each way and about four inches 
deep. 

The Gladiolus is increased from little bulbs around the 
old one and from seed. To get the best, buy them from 
a florist. 

HARDY GLOXINIA, INCARVILLEA DELAY AYI. 

This is a very desirable plant, one of the choicest per- 
ennials. It produces large Gloxinia-like, rose-colored 
flowers, which last a long time. These are in clusters 
on long stems eighteen inches high. They will grow in 
full sun or in the shade. 

Plant the bulbs in light, rich soil, four inches deep. 
They are increased from cuttings made square through 
at the junction of the leaf stem and the main stalk; but 
the novice should buy them from the florist if he does 
not wish to risk failure. 

GERMAN IRIS. 

The German Iris, or Flags, is one of the most desir- 
able early-spring flowering plants. The flowers are of 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 47 

large size, four to six inches across, of the most exquisite 
colors and shadings. They require good soil to show up 
to the best advantage, and do still better when planted 
near water, in the edge of a pond. They are multiplied 
by division of the roots and by seeds. 
Plant in rows, or six to ten inches apart. 

JAPANESE IRIS. 

There are both single and double flowers of this, one 
of the most beautiful of our summer flowering plants. 
The colors range from white to deep violet purple, and 
some show shades of red. Their blooming period is six 
or eight weeks, beginning about June 15. They will 
thriv.e in any situation. If the soil is rich and moist, so 
much the better. The Japanese Iris is increased by di- 
vision of the roots or from seeds. 

SPANISH IRIS. 

The Spanish Iris is more delicate in growth and 
flower. The roots are bulbous. The blooms appear to 
be made of wax and are of various colors — blue, lilac, 
white, and yellow. These do best in light, rich soil. 
They will grow in sunlight or shade. This variety 
blooms in April and May. They are increased by off- 
sets from the roots and by seeds. 

All of the Iris family should be planted in the autumn ; 
but if the Japanese Iris is planted early in the spring, 
it will bloom the same season. The seeds should be 
planted in April or May. If you wish to avoid possible 
failure, buy the plants from a florist or a nurseryman, 

Plant all Iris from six to ten inches apart. 



48 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

LILIES TO PLANT IN THE SPRING. 

The Auratum, Speciosum Album, Speciosum Rubrum, 
Speciosum Magnificum, and Tigrinum Splendens are 
hardy in the South, and do better when not disturbed. 
All of the other Lilies should be planted in the fall. 
Most of the Lilies are natives of the forest, and do best 
when slightly shaded. 

This family of plants revel in a light, rich loam, and 
should be planted about three inches deep from the top 
of the bulb and eight to ten inches apart. 

Lilies are usually increased by multiplication of the 
bulbs. With the Lilies that grow from roots, or corms, 
they can be multiplied by division, all of which should 
be done about July or August, and not disturbed for one 
year; but keep down the weeds and cultivate the ground 
thoroughly. Where immediate effect is required, al- 
ways get bulbs from a florist. 

P^ONIAS. 

These are the old-fashioned " Pinies " of our grand- 
mothers' gardens. While still popular because of their 
early flowering, they have been wonderfully improved 
in recent years. They are the queen of spring flowers. 
They are well adapted to massing in beds or for planting 
in shrubbery, succeeding nearly as well in the shade as 
in full sunlight. All they require is a deep sandy loam 
and plenty of old rotten manure spread over them in the 
fall. They furnish a wealth of bloom for several weeks 
in May and June, rivaling the rose in colors and per- 
fume. They should be planted in July or August. Set 
them from two to three feet each way. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 49 

RANUNCULUS. 

The Ranunculus should be planted in rich soil about 
the first of March in a partly shady place where they 
will get plenty of water. In a few weeks there will be 
a fine display of beautiful bloom that even the rose can- 
not surpass. They have no equal for late spring bed- 
ding, and are fine for cut flowers on account of their long, 
wiry stems. The colors are pink, white, black, yellow, 
blush, red, and variegated ; large and dotible about three 
inches across; hardy. Cover in the fall with stable ma- 
nure. Obtain roots from a florist. 

TIGRIDIAS. 

These showy flowering bulbs look well mixed in with 
other flowers, especially with Lilies, Gladiolus, Amaryllis, 
etc. They flower freely through the summer. The 
stems reach as high as eighteen inches. They are hardy 
in the South. They require rich soil for the best results. 
The colors are yellow, crimson, and white. Purchase 
the roots from a florist. 

All bulbs that are planted permanently in the flower 
beds should be set four or five inches deep, so that the 
surface can be worked over and other plants set out 
without injuring the bulbs that have blossomed in early 
spring and tops have died down and are at rest for the 
season, or there may be other bulbs planted in early 
spring that will come up and bloom amid the other plants 
that have been set in ground later. These bulbs — such 
as Gladiolus, Lilies, etc. — die to the ground, leaving the 
other flowers to bloom through the rest of the summer. 



50 Flowees, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

The following roots and bulbs must be planted in the 
autumn, as they make new roots in the fall and are 
prepared to withstand the winter, and also start growth 
under ground, ready to come up the first warm days. 
Buy the bulbs of a florist for best results. 

LILLIUM CANDIDUM, ANNUNCIATION LILY. 

This Lily will not stand removing well. It must be 
set in the ground in August if possible, and must not be 
disturbed, as it improves with age. The flowers are 
snow white and have a delightful perfume. They should 
be planted five inches deep in rich sandy loam, and a few 
old dry bones placed a foot beneath them will make a 
great improvement in the growth and bloom. When 
planted in quantity, set them six to eight inches each 
way. 

HYACINTHS, DUTCH. 

Hyacinths can be planted any time from July until 
October. The latest planting will bloom a few days 
later in April. These bulbs, when grown in quantity, 
are planted in beds, the bulbs placed from four to six 
inches each way. They will bloom well in any soil, but 
do best in a rich sandy loam. The colors are from pure 
white through all the shades to dark blue, red, salmon, 
and yellow. They are both double and single and de- 
lightfully perfumed. 

The Roman and Dutch Hyacinths and Paper- White 
Narcissus can be procured of your florist. 

The Roman Hyacinths are smaller and are more suited 
to greenhouse work ; but if they are planted out of doors 
in October or November, they are not so likely to be 
injured by coming up in midwinter and having the bloom 
spoiled. Planted in window boxes on October 15, they 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc 51 

often do well when kept in a cool room. Plant them 
thickly in the box as close as one inch each way, and 
keep the soil damp. Place in a dark place until they 
have started good, strong roots. They will be in bloom 
by Christmas. 

PAPER-WHITE NARCISSUS. 

The Paper-White Narcissus, when grown in pots or 
boxes, make excellent blooming plants at Christmas 
time if the bulbs are planted about October 15-20. When 
planted, they should be placed in a cellar or dark closet 
until well rooted ; then they may be placed in the full 
light if desired. 

All bulbs should be pressed firmly into the soil of the 
pots or boxes, but the top of the bulbs must be left above 
the top of the soil. This is always the rule for success 
in such work. They should be thoroughly watered 
when planted, but will require no more until brought to 
light in about ten or twelve days. 

TULIPS. 

These flowers are of brilliant and varied colors and 
shades. Tulips are beautifully adapted for beds on the 
lawn, in the garden, and give a fine effect when planted 
half a dozen in a place among shrubbery and along 
hedges. They are strong growers and will take care of 
themselves for many years. 

There are many varieties of the Tulip, both single and 
double, early and late. 

When purchasing bulbs, a statement should be made 
in regard to colors and whether it is desirable that they 
all bloom at the same time. 



52 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

Tulips will grow anywhere and in any soil, but will 
make a finer display when grown in good soil. 

NARCISSUS. 

This is the flower of the poets. Just after bleak win- 
ter they turn our gardens and lawns in gorgeous array 
of gold and silver, with a fragrance that is enchanting. 

There are many varieties of the Narcissus, both sin- 
gle and double. They are all hardy and need no atten- 
tion after being planted. They will grow anywhere. 
They show best when planted in masses in groves, in 
shrubbery, and in clumps on the lawn. They are use- 
ful for bouquets and for vases, as they keep well in wa- 
ter in a cool room. 

SNOWDROPS, STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 

The Snowdrops are not as conspicuous as some other 
flowers, but they bloom almost before the winter is gone, 
and give a cheery aspect to the lawn when their beautiful 
little star-shaped flowers are fully open, and they look 
well among shrubbery. 

There is a larger-growing Snowdrop, with, a large, 
drooping flower that is sometimes called " dead man's 
finger," that is also effectual when arranged among 
shrubbery. 

They do best when grown in rich soil. Plant them 
three or four inches apart and one inch deep. 

CROCUSES. 

Crocuses are among the first flowers of spring. They 
are so pretty and so cheap that they should be in every 
place in abundance. They show best when planted in 
masses of several dozen in the borders and a few placed 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 53 

among the shrubbery, and they give a very charming 
effect when placed in the sod in the lawn two or three 
at a place. As they bloom and ripen the foliage before 
the sod needs trimming, there will be no harm done and 
they will come up each spring. When planted in 
clumps, they must be set two or three inches deep and 
the same each way. They will grow in any good soil. 

CHIONODOXA, GLORY OF THE SNOW. 

The Chionodoxa is one of the most lovely spring- 
flowering bulbous plants, producing spikes of lovely 
bright-blue flowers, with pure-white centers. It is one 
of the earliest of all flowers, blooming before the Crocus. 

The Chionodoxa should be planted in masses of a 
dozen or more to have them show to the greatest advan- 
tage. Plant them in fence corners, near the roots of 
large trees, and in the flower borders. Set them in good, 
rich soil two inches deep and two inches each way. 
They improve each year. 

AMARYLLIS. 

The Amaryllis furnishes us with some of the grandest 
bloom that we have, the bloom averaging four inches. 
There are no pure-white flowers, but there are white 
with colored stripes through each petal. The colors are 
orange, scarlet, crimson, light rose, and almost white. 

If planted in rich, sandy loam about seven inches deep, 
they are hardy in the South; and if not disturbed, they 
will improve each year; but they are more suitable for 
pots, vases, and tubs for house adornment. They do 
well even when they do not get much sun. The soil in 
the pots should not get dry in their growing season, as 
it will spoil the bloom. Put one bulb in a ten-inch pot 



54 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

or six in an eighteen-inch-wide tub. When planted in 
pots or tubs, the bulbs should be only half buried in the 
soil. 

DAHLIAS. 

• The Dahlias are among the best and most beautiful of 
our late summer and autumn-blooming plants, and at 
the writing of this they are just now enjoying wide pop- 
ularity. The double-flowered sorts are the most fa- 
vored ; but some of the single sorts are simply immense, 
being as much as five inches across, and are of the most 
beautifully tinted self-colors imaginable, being pure 
white, yellow, rose, red, maroon, and all manner of com- 
bination of mottling and shading into various colors. 

Dahlias do best when not exposed to the noonday 
summer sun. The roots should not be planted in the 
garden until about May. Plant them five inches deep 
and eighteen inches apart. Buy established roots from 
the florist, and then you will be likely to get something 
satisfactory. 

ROSES. 

We intend to be as brief as possible to give the reader 
an understanding of each class of roses mentioned, so 
that we may guide the prospective planter in choosing 
in an intelligent manner. 

The old hardy roses — known as Province, Hybrid 
Chinas, Mosses, Briers, and Climbing — bloomed only 
in the spring and were literally covered with flowers; 
but since the improved sorts have become plentiful, the 
old sorts are not much in demand. 

HYBRID PERPETUALS. 

This class does not bloom as freely as the Tea Roses, 
but the flowers of many are perfectly grand; and if the 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 55 

bloom is cut off with the stem near the ground, that will 
often induce more growth and consequently more bloom. 
The plants of this class are nearly all rank in growth, 
and have rough leaves, and are very thorny. Instead 
of being called " perpetual," they should have been called 
" intermittent," as the most of them bloom irregularly ; 
but quite a number bloom as well as some of the Tea 
Roses and are prefectly hardy. 

EVER-BLOOMING ROSES. 

This class is easily distinguished by its more delicate 
and glossy leaves and stems. There are about four sub- 
classes here — namely, Noisette, Tea, Bourbon, and Ben- 
gal. Some sorts are rank growers; others are of dwarf 
habit; such are most of the Tea class. 

The Tea Roses are often killed to the ground in se- 
vere winters in the South, but will put up again. It is a 
good idea to cover Tea Roses with old straw leaves or 
manure in December and trim the bushes to the ground 
in March. 

The most satisfactory way to propagate the Rose is 
by cuttings placed in a damp, cool place in the early 
summer ; or in August, in the window box, set in the sun 
and kept soaking wet; or before heavy frost set pieces 
about six inches long thickly in a protected corner in 
the garden. Bury them to the top bud. By April many 
of them will be rooted. 

The Rose thrives best in a rather stiff clay soil, and 
the colors are richer. 

Hybrid perpetuals must be planted not closer than 
two feet each way. The Tea Roses can be placed as close 
as eighteen inches. 

To prepare a bed for Roses, a good plan is to remove 



56 Floweks, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

the soil to one side to the depth of ten or twelve inches, 
mixing the same with one-third of well-rotted cow ma- 
nure, forking it over several times to thoroughly incor- 
porate the compost, in the last turning it into the bed 
proper. This should be done in dry weather, when it 
can be tramped down to firm the soil without packing 
it. If the soil taken from the bed is poor, it should be 
rejected and good clay loam substituted, or well-rotted 
sod from an old pasture can be used with excellent re- 
sults. 

A Few Don'ts. 

Don't be forever working your rose beds or shrubbery, 
as they do not need deep cultivation, and you may do 
them more harm than good by breaking the young fibers 
or working roots. Keep the weeds cleaned out, and 
break up the crust that forms on the surface, using a 
light hoe. 

Don't trim annual blooming roses at all; only cut out 
the dead and undesirable wood. 

Don't let your flower beds get out of shape. Trim 
the ends that seem to be growing out of order. This 
will benefit all soft-wooded plants, and many hardwood 
plants are improved in shape by trimming off uneven 
ends. 



The following is a good assortment of summer deco- 
rative plants for the lawn : 

COLEUS, IN SOLID BEDS. 

The Coleus, with their brilliantly vari-colored foliage, 
make beautiful beds. Either when used for ribbon beds 
or when used in solid beds of one color, they produce a 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 57 

most pleasing effect. They must be obtained from a 
greenhouse, as they must be several inches high when 
planted for immediate effect. Water copiously when 
planting. 

The Coleus delights in a rich loam, with a moderate 
amount of water and plenty of warm sunshine, and will 
do fairly well in the shade. When they show the bloom, 
pinch it off, and the plants will be improved thereby. 
The colors of Coleus leaves range from white to green 
and velvety crimson and black, with all kinds of mar- 
bling and splotching. 

The Coleus will not stand frost. Plant twelve inches 
apart. 

GERANIUMS. 

Fish Geraniums have always been the main standby 
for summer bedding, considering their ability to stand 
drought and a little frost, thereby remaining in good 
condition later than most other plants used for such pur- 
poses. 

The Geranium is undoubtedly one of the most contin- 
ually floriferous of all decorative bedding plants. It will 
grow in the shade or in full sunshine. 

It is best to get stock from the florist, so that you may 
choose the colors and varieties desired. Plant from ten 
to tv/elve inches apart. 

NASTURTIUMS, IN SOLID BEDS. 

Any one who has planted a bed of Nasturtiums will 
realize at once that we are recommending one of the 
prettiest low-growing bedding plants extant. They are 
grown from seed planted about the middle of April or 
first of May. Place a seed or two seven inches each way 



58 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

in poor soil. You will then have more bloom and not 
so much foHage. 

This plant withstands drought remarkably well. The 
foliage is very attractive, and the flowers are intensely 
bright and attractive and are borne in profusion the 
whole summer if no seeds are allowed to remain on the 
plants. 

PETUNIAS, IN SOLID BEDS. 

This annual is admired by many, and rightly so. 
There are many high-priced plants that do not make any 
better show than the Petunia. All that is required to 
keep up a continual succession of bloom until freezing 
weather is to pinch off the ends of the branches about 
once a month to induce new growth. They will grow 
in any soil, in full sun or in the shade. 

Sow the seed broadcast in the bed and rake the soil 
well to cover the seed. The plants will thin themselves. 
All that is required is to keep the weeds in check until 
the plants cover the ground. 

The above has reference to the single varieties. It is 
better to get the double sorts in plants from a florist or 
greenhouse, as there is an uncertainty about the seeds 
of double sorts. 

VINCA, OR PERIWINKLE, IN SOLID BEDS. 

This is a lovely bedding plant of modest appearance, 
but so reliable, producing in profusion its bright pink and 
white flowers from early summer until frost, thriving in 
any good soil. The plants must be set in the bed about 
nine or ten inches each w^ay. Give them plenty of wa- 
ter when planted, but they stand drought well and will 
need no water all summer. 

Vincas are easily grown from seeds ; but for early sum- 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 59 

mer bedding it is best to get plants from a greenhouse, 
as the plants have been started early and are ready to 
bloom when planted in the beds. 

SALVIA, OR SCARLET SAGE, IN SOLID BEDS. 

The Salvia is a favorite and fashionable standard bed- 
ding plant of the greatest merit. It stands heat and 
drought remarkably well. It blooms in the most lav- 
ish profusion from the time it is set in the bed until cut 
down by frost. The flowers are of the most intense 
scarlet imaginable. 

Salvias should be grown in good soil. Seedlings are 
not to be depended on. Get the plants from a green- 
house. They are then well advanced and will bloom at 
once. Set the plants when grown in solid beds from 
twelve to fifteen inches each way. 

LANTANAS. 

The Lantanas are among the most floriferous plants 
in cultivation, and are easily grown. They begin to 
bloom when only a few inches high and continue to 
bloom until frost. The colors are white, yellow, orange, 
pink, rose, scarlet, etc. Nothing is more satisfactory 
than this for the garden or for pots. They make a fine 
display when made into beds of one sort only, as some 
varieties grow taller than others. 

Lantanas will thrive in any soil or situation. The 
most satisfactory plants are to be obtained from a florist. 

TRITOMA, OR RED-HOT POKER, IN SOLID 
BEDS. 

The Hardy Tritoma comes with some of the newer 
plants ; but we have tried it, and find it very fine as a 



60 Flowers, Fetjits, VEasTABLES, Etc. 

permanent bedder, improving year by year, blooming 
incessantly from early summer until December. Noth- 
ing but a freeze will stop it from blooming. The flower 
stalks are about two feet tall, crowned with a large spike 
of the most dazzling orange and scarlet flowers imag- 
inable. 

Tritomas thrive best in a deep sandy loam. When 
freezing weather comes, cover the bed with about three 
inches of well-rotted manure. To meet with success in 
growing this plant, get the roots from a reliable florist, 
and plant them so that the crown of the roots will be 
two inches below the level of the bed and ten to twelve 
inches apart. 

SALPIGLOSSIS. 

The Salpiglossis is a very fine and brilliant bedding 
plant. It has fine, large, bell-shaped blossoms of velvet- 
like texture and with deep veins and pencilings on a 
groundwork of the most pleasing colors of red, white, 
blue, purple, yellow, etc. This is an annual, and must 
be started early if wanted for early summer bedding. 

Sow the seed in the permanent bed on April 15, and 
leave a plant ten inches each way. ' They will thrive 
nicely in any good garden soil. 

DUSTY MILLER. 

The Dusty Miller is indispensable in the designing of 
flower beds where contrast is required. The plants be- 
ing white, they will contrast with anything. They make 
a most striking finish to the outer edge of beds of taller 
growth of dark colors; and another thing that recom- 
mends them is the fact that they are not partial to any 
particular soil or location. 

When used as a border, set the plants five or six inches 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 61 

apart, so that they will make an unbroken line. Get 
these from the florist, as it would be impossible to grow 
them from seed sown out of doors. They are used 
mostly as an edging for other plants. 

ALTERNANTHERA. 

The Alternanthera, in the hands of a tasty gardener, 
can be made into the most unique and charming de- 
signs. Its low growth and beautiful tinted leaves of 
green, pink, red, and yellow, and the ease with which it 
can be kept in order, render it a most desirable foliage 
plant for many decorative purposes. They are com- 
monly used in carpet bedding or for edging flower beds. 

Set these plants about four inches apart, so that they 
will form a compact line. 

GAILLARDIA, IN SOLID BEDS. 

Both annual and perennial Gaillardias are splendid 
bedding plants. They are remarkable for the profusion, 
size, and brilliancy of their flowers. They are in bloom 
from June until November. When set in a solid bed ten 
inches each way, they form one solid mass of orange- 
red flowers. They must be planted in good garden soil 
in April or early May. 

The best plan to start an early bed of Gaillardia is to 
buy the plants from a greenhouse ; but if seed are used, 
sow them in March in the bed they are to grow in and 
keep the weeds down until they cover the ground. They 
grow about fifteen inches high. To make them bloom 
more profusely, pinch off all of the seed. 



62 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

RICINUS, CASTOR OIL BEAN, FOR 
DECORATIVE WORK. 

This stately annual gives a fine tropical effect when 
grown in clumps or in centers of beds with other foliage 
plants surrounding it. There are several varieties — 
some that grow as high as twelve feet, others that are 
a little more than a yard high. The different varieties 
are of various colors — green, bronze, coppery brown, and 
brownish purple. The leaves of some varieties are all 
two feet broad. They thrive best in a deep, rich loam. 

These plants are grown from seed planted in April 
where they are to remain. They are subtropical plants, 
and are easily killed by frost. 

CALADIUMS, ELEPHANT'S EAR, IN SOLID 
BEDS. 

There are a number of varieties of the Caladium fam- 
ily, but the one of greatest utility for large beds is known 
as " Caladium Esculentum," being the largest of all and 
the easiest to grow. It gives a grand tropical effect to 
the premises. When given plenty of water and old, 
well-rotted stable manure placed on the surface after 
planting, these plants will grow six or seven feet high, 
with great shieldlike leaves three feet long and nearly as 
broad. As the roots are easily spoiled by the frost, they 
will have to be gotten from the florist. They are then 
in good order and will grow at once. They can be 
planted in the bed about April 15, and should be set two 
inches below the surface. When the weather becomes 
dry, give them plenty of water. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 63 

ABYSSINIAN BANANA, MUSA ENSETE. 

This is one of the grandest and most stately of all the 
rapid-growing tropical plants used in the Temperate 
Zone for decorative effects in the open. When the hot 
summer days arrive, it grows rapidly and attains gigan- 
tic proportions, producing a fine tropical effect on the 
lawn. The leaves are superb, very long and massive, 
of a beautiful shade of green, with a midrib of red. The 
plant will grow as tall as eight feet in a single summer. 

This Musa must be grown from seed started in the 
greenhouse in March and planted on the lawn about the 
first of May, in very rich soil, in a slight depression that 
will hold several gallons, into which pour several large 
buckets of water every evening, and about once a week 
give a bucketful of liquid manure. 

CANNAS, IN SOLID BEDS. 

Cannas give a fine tropical aspect to the surroundings 
of a home. When only one sort of the large flowering 
varieties are used in beds, they look much better and are 
more even in growth. They are popular, and are among 
the most brilliant of summer bedding plants. They have 
no insect pests, and rarely ever fail to grow luxuriantly, 
and are in bloom in a few weeks after planting the roots. 
They will grow well in any soil, but will thrive best in 
rich, moist land. The colors of the bloom range from 
creamy white through various shades of yellow, orange, 
scarlet, and crimson; and the foliage is light and dark 
green, light and very dark bronze. Some plants are only 
a few inches high, while other plants will grow as tall as 
seven feet. 

Canna roots should be set one foot each way and three 
inches deep. The roots should be gotten from the flo- 



64 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

rist, as they are in better condition and all of them will 
be sure to grow. 

ARUNDO. 

There are two kinds of the Arundo used for massing 
on the lawn or in the garden — the tall green, that grows 
as high as ten or twelve feet, and the variegated, which 
grows only six or eight feet tall. The latter, being the 
most beautiful, is the one generally in use. The leaves 
are striped, creamy white, and green. This plant shows 
to fine advantage when planted in groups of five or six 
roots at a place. Ihey require rich soil, and do better 
when planted in a damp place or on the side of a pond. 
They are perfectly hardy and improve year by year, 
growing in sod with no cultivation. 

The Arundos will have to be obtained from a nursery, 
and should be planted in April or May. Place them four 
inches deep and two feet between plants. 

TUBEROSES. 

Tuberoses are among the most beautiful of our sum- 
mer-flowering bulbs, and have the most delightful per- 
fume imaginable. By proper management they may be 
had in bloom all the year through. 

For blooming in the open border, plant the first bulbs 
about April 20 and then every two weeks until about 
June 1. A few may be planted with good results in a 
general mixture bed. When grown in quantity, they 
should be planted in good garden soil not nearer than 
ten inches each way and about three inches deep from 
the neck of the bulb to the surface. Remove all side 
shoots. 

There being several varieties of the Tuberose, it is 
well to consult a florist as to the best varieties for the 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 65 

section in which it is desirable to plant, and also for what 
purpose they are intended. Some are single-flowered, 
others are double-flowered, and one variety has the fo- 
liage beautifully striped with green and white. 

YELLOW DAY LILY. 

These plants are popular, and justly so, as one kind 
or another is in bloom from June until September. The 
flow^ers range in colors from a beautiful lemon yellow to 
orange and coppery yellow, also blue. The most of 
them are delightfully sweet-scented. They grow about 
two feet high, bearing quantities of bloom when well es- 
tablished, and will thrive in any kind of soil, but should 
be covered in November with two inches deep of old 
stable manure. 

The plants must be set in April about two inches deep 
from the crown or bud. They are hardy and need little 
protection in winter. Procure the roots from the florist. 



The following are plants that will grow in the shade : 

PLANTAIN LILY, FUNKIA. 

These are among the easiest of plants to grow ; and if 
they did not bear any flowers, the broad mass of deep- 
green leaves are very ornamental. The flowers are beau- 
tiful shades of blue, lilac, and pure white, the white be- 
ing delightfully fragrant. 

The Plantain Lilies thrive best in rich sandy loam. 
The flowering time is August. The roots must be set 
in March, with the crown level with the ground. 

The Funkias are all hardy and require no protection. 
3 



66 Floweks, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

These plants are often used as vase and tub plants with 
fine effect. They should be purchased from a florist. 

VIOLETS, ALL SORTS. 

The habitat of the Violet is in shady nooks and in the 
forest. They will grow in any soil if there is even a thin 
layer of forest mold, or in cultivation old stable manure 
sifted over the plants just after being set out is a good 
substitute. Some of the varieties are in bloom several 
times in spring, summer, and fall; but the flowers are 
very indifferent in warm weather. 

Violets must be set five or six inches each way ; or 
when in rows, set them about six inches apart. All Vio- 
lets are hardy. For early or winter blooms, plant in 
cold frame and give plenty of air on warm days by rais- 
ing the sash a little. 

LILY OF THE VALLEY. 

It is a rare thing to see a real good specimen of the 
Lily of the Valley. They are usually badly set in the 
bed in soil not suited to their needs, and consequently 
they produce poor bloom. This plant repays good treat- 
ment. 

Place the plants in rich sandy loam in March or April, 
and spread on the surface two inches of old, well-rotted 
stable manure. There will be a marked difference in the 
increased size and number of the bells, as well as the 
more vigorous condition of the plants. Place the roots 
straight down in the ground, with the crown one inch 
below the surface of the soil. They are as hardy as an 
oak, and improve for years before resetting. 

Lilies of the Valley must be planted in a situation 
where only the morning or late evening sun will fall on 
them. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. (i7 

HARDY FERNS. 

There are probably a dozen or more desirable hardy 
Ferns that are suitable for the shady situations about the 
home. 

Ferns should be planted in rich, well-drained soil, and 
the foliage should be liberally sprayed in dry weather 
to keep them in a thrifty condition. If leaf mold can be 
had for the bed, place thereon about one inch deep, and 
they will grow much finer. Where several varieties are 
planted in a large bed, it would be a difficult matter to 
give the space between the plants; but a good average 
would be about ten inches each way. Cover the bed 
about three inches deep with leaves or straw about No- 
vember. 

These plants will have to be gotten from the green- 
houses, as some of the most beautiful are not native in 
the South: 

MONEYWORT, OR CREEPING JENNY. 

The botanical name of this creeper is " Lysimachia." 
It is very valuable for shady places and under trees and 
shrubbery, where it soon forms a dense carpet of deep 
green. It will grow where grass will not, in poor or 
rich land. 

A piece of the vine can be cut into single joints and 
placed ten or twelve inches each way, and every piece 
will grow and soon cover the ground. It is perfectly 
hardy, needing no protection in winter. 

LOBELIA. 

This pretty, floriferous little plant does nicely when 
grown in the shade. It is best to get well-matured 
plants from the florist. By this means the bed is sooner 



68 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

in order. If seed is sown in the bed, it should be done 
in April. 

Lobelia of any sort will grow in good garden soil, but 
will grow more robust and bloom better in rich soil. The 
colors are blue, red, and white; but the blue colors are 
usually preferred for bedding purposes. The plants 
should be set in the bed about four inches each way to 
make a solid mass. 

Lobelias will not stand much frost, and should be pro- 
tected on cold nights until the weather is settled; and 
we should not forget to state that there is no little plant 
more lovely when arranged in vases, swinging baskets, 
and rockeries than the Lobelia. 

PLUMBAGO. 

This is also recommended as useful for shady places. 
There are two sorts that are the most popular of the 
shrubby varieties — the blue and the white. They are 
often planted in the garden, but are considered a good 
vase and tub plant and are more commonly used as such. 
The flowers are single, the individual flowerets being 
about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, and are 
formed in clusters about three or four inches in diam- 
eter. They flourish best in cool, moist places. These 
should be gotten from a florist and the roots disturbed 
as little as possible when transplanting into another ves- 
sel. If several are set together in the garden, they must 
be arranged about twelve or fourteen inches each way. 
They grow about twenty inches high. 

GERANIUMS, GOLD AND SILVER-LEAVED. 

The Geranium family being too well known to require 
cultural instructions, we will only state that they can 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 69 

be successfully used in shady places, especially the varie- 
gated-leaved varieties. 

BEGONIAS. 

The whole Begonia family are most excellent for 
shady nooks, whether it be under a bluff, in the grove, 
or at the north side of a dwelling. Their native habitat 
is high in the mountains of tropical America, in a cool, 
moist atmosphere just below the frost line. 

Treating of plants suitable for growing in the shade 
leads up to the subject of the proper care of plants that 
are being grown indoors in the winter months for the 
decoration of the home. Such plants require careful wa- 
tering so as not to render the soil real wet, merely damp. 
If kept wet in a temperature of over sixty-five or seventy 
degrees Fahrenheit, the plants will be forced into a 
rapid, unhealthy growth. Such plants as are intended 
to bloom in a dwelling room should be kept as close to 
a well-lighted, sunny window as possible, a southern or 
southeastern exposure preferred. Nearly all indoor 
plants will keep in good condition in a temperature of 
from forty to fift}^ degrees Fahrenheit. 



The following are plants that can be used with excel- 
lent summer decorative effect when planted in vases and 
tubs on the veranda or on the lawn : 

FERNS. 

Ferns of the large type are used more than any other 
plants for the decoration of the house on account of 



70 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

their very graceful and drooping habit. Some varieties 
stand the sun remarkably well and are much used on the 
lawn and in the garden. 

Ferns are partial to moisture and should be sprayed 
on the foliage every evening about sunset. This keeps 
them in good condition. A weak solution of lime is 
beneficial when poured around the ^ roots. This gives 
them a needed stimulus, and also drives out all worms 
that may be in the soil. 

Plant all ferns in good garden soil, placing one inch 
of well-rotted stable manure on the top of the soil after 
the plants are set. 

ASPARAGUS. 

The Asparagus Plumosis is a most beautiful and 
graceful plant, one of the best for the home, as it will 
live under the most adverse conditions if it only gets a 
Httle water occasionally; but if given good treatment, it 
is a thing of beauty and a joy all summer and a large 
part of the winter, as it is almost hardy enough to grow 
outside. 

Some varieties of this plant have fine feathery foliage; 
others have the most beautiful lacelike foliage that has 
the appearance of having been pressed flat. When these 
plants show an inclination to make a vine or runner, the 
end should be pinched off. This will cause a compact 
growth that adds to its beauty. 

ASPARAGUS SPRENGERI. 

The Asparagus Sprengeri, or Emerald Feather, is a 
most beautiful vase and swinging-basket plant, and can 
be used in the window box with fine effect. It is of a 
beautiful shade of light green, of drooping habit, pro- 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 71 

ducing sprays three feet in length, and often well sprin- 
kled with coral-red berries. 

All of the Asparagus family delight in a rich sandy 
loam, with plenty of water. 

CALADIUMS IN TUBS. 

All varieties of the Caladium family are good for grow- 
ing in tubs and vases when they can have plenty of wa- 
ter and very rich soil. The large sorts of the Elephant's- 
Ear type are usually too large for the veranda; but the 
fancy-leaved varieties are smaller and can be grown in 
large pots, vases, and tubs about the house. The fancy- 
leaved sorts require some sunlight to keep them in good 
health. The colors and markings of these beautiful 
plants are endless. 

As thes;e Caladiums are of a tropical nature, they must 
be started early in a hothouse, about March, and should 
not be placed outside before the first of May. Never 
water Caladiums until about sunset. The leaves will 
then not be sunburned. When the leaves begin to die 
in the autumn, give them water sparingly for a few days, 
then let them dry up in the tub, then place them in a dry, 
frost-proof place until next spring. Several fancy-leaved 
varieties may be placed in a half barrel, as they are much 
smaller than the Caladium Esculentum variety. 

CALLAS, LILY OF THE NILE. 

Nearly every one looks upon the Callas as greenhouse 
plants, but they will grow anywhere outdoors all sum- 
mer until frost. They make real nice tub or vase plants 
when a half dozen or more roots are planted together. 
The dry roots should be rolled in air-slacked lime before 



72 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

being set. They are then not likely to rot, and the lime 
is a good fertilizer. 

Plant them in rich soil, pressing the soil firmly around 
them with the top of the root half an inch beneath the 
covering. 

There are a number of varieties of the Calla — tall and 
dwarf. The blooms are pink, yellow, sulphur, and white. 
The last is the kind generally used by the florists. They 
are not hardy. 

BEGONIAS. 

The Begonia family is a numerous one, and nearly all 
are useful for the business in hand. For small vases and 
large pots the Rex varieties are the most suitable, being 
of a low-spreading habit, with broad, beautifully marked 
leaves in silver and green, red and bronze. Those suit- 
able for large vases and tubs are known as " Fibrous- 
Rooted Begonias." Some of these will grow six or more 
feet high. The leaves of these are very ornamental and 
produce lovely flowers — white, pink, and coral red, ac- 
cording to variety. 

All of the Begonias revel in a rich, moist sandy loam, 
in a shady situation. Never allow any moisture to get 
on the leaves ; it spoils their appearance. They will not 
stand frost, but will do well in a cool place. They 
should be gotten from a florist. 



There are hundreds of fine flowers of old, well-known 
varieties, both hardy and tender, that would furnish the 
most beautiful decorative eflfects and would please the 
most fastidious. Our intention has been to give the 
best known and the easiest to manage of the old and a 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 73 

few of the newer kinds — plants that have proven to be 
good bloomers and also for foliage effects. 

Until now we have not mentioned any of the Palm 
family and a few other plants that are of slow growth 
and more costly and have to be wintered in a greenhouse 
or dwelling room where no frost can enter. We will 
mention a few of the most hardy against heat, cold, and 
dust. 

CYCAS REVOLUTA, SAGO PALM. 

This Palm has heavy, glossy, deep-green, graceful, 
fernlike foliage, and is one of the best decorative plants 
for both house and lawn. This plant resists dust, gas, 
and cold, but will not stand hard frost. 

LATANIA BORBONICA. 

This is 'of the easiest culture, developing large, deeply 
divided, fan-shaped leaves of remarkable beauty, with- 
standing dust, gas, heat, cold, and some drought without 
serious injury; but it should be watered very little in 
winter. It is a good indoor plant. 

KENTIAS. 

These Palms are all reliable for house and lawn deco- 
ration. The foliage is of the fan-shaped type, but is cleft 
to the stem. There are several varieties of this. It 
does best outside in tubs. 

PHCENIX CANARIENSIS. 

This is a Date Palm and is highly ornamental. It 
has long, graceful, pinnated or fernlike leaves and makes 
a good tub plant on the lawn, and will stand some rough 
treatment indoors for several weeks without sunlight. 



74 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

Plant these in any good garden soil mixed with a lit- 
tle sand to keep the soil from getting hard in the tub. 
Give liquid fertilizer or a little bone meal worked in the 
top soil three or four times during the summer. 

ARECA LUTESCENS. 

This is a graceful, soft-foliaged Palm — one of the most 
beautiful in cultivation. The foliage is a bright, glossy 
green, with rich, golden-yellow stems. This Areca 
grows about four feet in height. 

COCOS WEDDELIANA. 

This is the most graceful of all the small Palms. The 
growth is very slow, but they hold their beauty a long 
time. Its slender, erect stem is freely furnished with 
gracefully arching leaves of a rich, bright-green color. 
It is well adapted to house culture, standing extreme 
heat and cold as well as dust and gases of the furnace. 
This Palm grows only about eighteen inches tall. 

RUBBER PLANT. 

The variety known as " Ficus Elastica " is the best 
for house decoration. This variety grows rapidly, and 
has large, beautiful, glossy, deep-green, oval-shaped 
leaves about eight inches long. 

Rubber plants require about the same treatment as the 
Palms, withstanding many hard knocks without se- 
rious injury. Sometimes the old leaves fall off; this is 
natural ; but if new leaves do not put forth in a few days, 
apply a little liquid fertilizer, unless the tub appears to 
be full of roots. In the latter case transfer to a larger 
tub. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 75 

ASPEDISTRA. 

This is not a Palm, but there is more real satisfaction 
to be gotten out of it than any plant we know of for use 
about the house. It does not seem to require sunlight 
at all. It will grow on the hearth, mantel, in the far- 
thest corner from the light, growing all the time. There 
are two varieties — solid green and striped white. Both 
are good pot plants. Give them good, loamy soil and 
plenty of water, and there will be nothing more required 
of you. 

PANDANAS. 

There are two varieties of this plant suitable for deco- 
rative purposes indoors or outdoors. One kind has 
bright-green, long, swordlike, saw-toothed leaves in 
a spiral around a single stem, and on that account is 
often spoken of as the " screw pine." The other variety 
has the same general appearance, but is broadly striped 
with creamy white. They grow here in the greenhouses 
to reach the height of seven or eight feet. 

There is no better plant than the Pandanas for table 
decoration as a centerpiece surrounded by ferns or other 
suitable material. 

ARAUCARIA EXCELSA. 

This is sometimes called " Norfolk Island Pine." It 
is a most beautiful and desirable plant for well-lighted 
hallways and verandas. It is more hardy than it is gen- 
erally supposed to be. The branches are arranged in 
tiers in a most pleasing and graceful manner. It suc- 
ceeds best in a moderately rich sandy loam, with a few 
well-decayed old bones in the bottom of the pot or tub. 
Keep the soil damp at all times. Every few days shower 
well the under side of the leaves to wash off the red 



76 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

spider that may harbor there. He is a minute insect 
that can hardly be seen, but he will cause the plant to 
turn brown and spoil it. 

The Pines will make big trees in their native habitat; 
but when grown in pots, they do not get very tall — about 
six or eight feet. 



We have given you a list of flowers and foliage plants 
for general planting, also special bedding plants and a 
few of the best foliage stock for house and lawn decora- 
tion. We will now add a few of the best flowering 
plants suitable for the ornamentation of the home 
throughout the winter months, specifying those for the 
holidays. These plants should be grown and kept in the 
greenhouse until in full bloom, as the ordinary room is 
not suitable for the best development of such stock. 
They will remain in bloom many weeks if not allowed to 
get too dry or to get frozen. 

For Christmastide, the Easter Lilies, Cyclamens, Chi- 
nese Primrose, Poinsettias, Eupatoriums, Azaleas, Callas 
and Roses in pots, Roman Hyacinths, paper-white Nar- 
cissus, and other plants can be used. 

For Easter, Easter Lilies, Azaleas, Fuchsias, Begonias, 
Geraniums, Abutilons, Heliotropes, Cinerarias, Perennial 
Balsams, Forget-Me-Nots, Alyssums, Hyacinths, Bou- 
vardias, and many other plants are in bloom at this 
time. As spring is at hand, there is a wide range of 
blooming plants to choose from. 

For Thanksgiving Day and until Christmas, there 
are a number of good blooming plants in the garden that 
can be placed in large pots or tubs. 

In removing plants from the garden that are in bud or 
bloom, be careful to remove the soil from around the 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 77 

plant to be transferred, leaving a solid ball of earth 
around the roots. Place earth enough in the bottom of 
the pot or tub to bring the top of the ball an inch or two 
below the level of the rim of the receptacle, so as to 
leave room for the watering of the plant. This ball of 
earth must almost fill the vessel, leaving only a small 
space to be filled with soil, which should be pushed down 
firmly, after which water thoroughly and move to a 
shady place, giving no more water for five days. After- 
wards move into the full light until the weather gets 
cool. Do not let frost fall on them, as the bloom may 
be damaged. There are no more satisfactory plants for 
this work than Chrysanthemums, Cosmos, Geraniums, 
and Cannas. They are rather weedy in nature and will 
stand much bad treatment without being killed. 

A real old-fashioned grandmother's garden, such as 
we have seen in our childhood, would be to the children 
of this time a real wonderland, in the general abandon 
with which the flowers were intermingled with shrubs 
and evergreens, crab-apple trees and dwarf fruit trees 
laden with fruit, the trees often not taller than a 
small boy. In those wonderful gardens you would see 
Love-Lies-Bleeding (Weeping Amaranthus), Holly- 
hocks, Ambrosia, Yellow Lady's Slippers, Old Maid's 
Pinks, Bachelor's Buttons, Touch-Me-Nots (Balsams), 
Ragged Sailors (Centaureas), Love-in-a-Mist, Hearts- 
ease, Altheas, Columbines, Morning-Glories, Sweet Will- 
iams, Cowslips, etc. At a glance the impression made 
would be that Dame Nature in her most tasty mood had 
just dropped all of those plants there for the admiration 
and wonder of man. 



78 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

HARDY WATER LILIES AND OTHER 
AQUATICS. 

There is no work in the realm of floriculture that is 
more interesting than the preparation of ponds and aqua- 
riums, and there is hardly anything that furnishes more 
pleasure than the observation of the development of all 
manner of aquatic life in a well-arranged piece of work 
in this line. 

There are more than fifty varieties of the hardy Water 
Lilies. The colors found among them are white, pink, 
red, crimson, and yellow, with combinations of these 
colors. They all have beautiful anthers, or centers, in 
colors from light yellow to dark orange and rarely of a 
red tint. 

There are two ways to prepare a Lily Pond. One is to 
remove the soil to the depth of two feet, leaving a flat 
bottom and the sides at an angle of forty-five degrees. 
If there are soft places in the ground, remove the earth 
and tamp clay firmly into them. Take hydraulic cement 
in the proportion of one of cement and three of sharp 
sand, and of this place a coat on sides and bottom to a 
thickness of not less than a half inch, and allow it to 
stand three or four days before turning in the water. 
The cement must be used at once when mixed, as it soon 
sets and is worthless. After a few days, the tubs with 
the Lily roots may be placed in the pond. The soil for 
the tubs should be one-half rich loam and one-half rotted 
cow manure. The roots should be procured and set be- 
tween April 15 and May 1 for best results. The other 
method of planting is to set the Lily roots directly in 
the soil in the bottom of the pond. The soil is the same 
as for the tubs, but is placed six to ten inches deep over 
the entire bottom, and the roots are placed from two to 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 79 

four feet each way, according to the size of the plant. 
When only one or two plants are required, a barrel may 
be cut in two and set in the ground or on the surface, 
filling the tubs two-thirds full of the pond soil; and fill 
with water, keeping the tub always full, and keep in full 
sunlight or in a slightly shaded place. 

Apply to a grower of aquatics to ascertain the best 
varieties for such work as you wish to perform. 

PLANTS RECOMMENDED AS BEST FOR 
AQUARIUMS FOR THE HOUSE. 

We will have to give both the botanical and common 
names of some of these plants, as it is likely that an ap- 
peal will have to be made to a grower of aquatics for 
a supply of this stock. 

We will first mention the plants that grow in the soil 
with the foliage above the water : Cyperus Alturnifolius, 
Limnocharis Humboldti (or Water Poppy), Myriophyl- 
lum Proserpinacoides (or Parrot Feather). 

The following plants float on the water: Eichhornia 
Crassipes Major (or Water Hyacinth), and Salvinia 
Braziliensis. 

Those mentioned below live under the water: Vallis- 
neria Spiralis (Eel Grass, or Wild Celery), Sagittaria 
Natens, Columba Viridifolia (Washington Grass). 

There are other plants to be had, but these will be 
found to suit all ordinary requirements. Any one who 
grows aquatics can furnish these plants. If there is no 
one growing aquatics in your neighborhood, your near- 
est florist can direct you to some one in that line who 
can furnish what you may require. 

With the exception of the Water Hyacinth, the aquat- 
ics should have some soil on the roots. This can be 



80 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

managed so as not to muddy the water by either placing 
an inch of rich soil on the bottom of the small aquariums, 
setting the plants therein, or by placing the plants in 
pots two-thirds full of soil, or by using other recepta- 
cles used for such purposes, then filled partly with soil. 
After setting the plants therein, fill the pots or other re- 
ceptacles with clean sand that has been washed, or cover 
the soil on the bottom of the aquarium with about one 
inch of clean sand. Place a flat vessel on the sand in 
the aquarium, on which pour in the water slowly. When 
finished, the water should be perfectly clear. A few 
bright pebbles or shells may be dropped in, then put in 
the fish. 

To clean out the aquarium without disturbing the con- 
tents, use a one-fourth-inch piece of rubber tubing two 
or three feet long. Suck the same full of clean water, 
holding both ends. Place one end in the aquarium, pass- 
ing over the bottom to pick up the refuse. The other 
end of the tube, being lower than the bottom, will carry 
off the dirty water. Once or twice a month is often 
enough to replenish the water when there are plants 
growing therein. If a heavy growth of moss forms on 
the bottom, that will aereate the water sufiicient to sus- 
tain the fish ; but if the fish should stay on top very long 
at a time and appear to be sucking air, they should be 
given fresh water and a little broken crackers, but no 
more than they will eat up clean in an hour or two. If 
the fish appear to be sluggish for several days in suc- 
cession, place them in salty water for a few minutes. 
This seems to be a good tonic at such times. If their 
bodies seem to be very much swollen, about five min- 
utes' time spent in one quart of water, into which one 
teaspoonful of common table salt has been added, will 
cause them soon to show a more lively disposition. This 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 81 

treatment will keep them in good health if repeated once 
or twice a month. 

No one should kill the toads because they use the lily 
ponds for breeding. The toad is one of the best friends 
than man has. Unfortunately, so few are aware of the 
millions of harmful insects destroyed in a season by a 
single toad. To keep toads from the ponds, place a 
light, small-meshed fence about one foot high around the 
pond; or, better still, when cementing the pond, place a 
rim of cement twelve inches high, with a slight lip turned 
to the outside so they cannot climb over. 

WINDOW BOXES. 

In this work we have often mentioned the use of win- 
dow boxes to start seeds of such plants as would be 
wanted for early planting. 

A convenient size for a window box for starting seeds 
for early use should be twelve inches wide, about twenty 
inches long, and six inches deep. Place four inches of 
rich earth in it. Make it level. Firm it down with a 
piece of board, but do not pack it hard. Use a square 
stick that will easily go in the box crossways. Turn it 
on one corner and press into the soil, thus making small 
trenches, into which sow the seed. Cover lightly. Turn 
the stick flat and press down the soil lightly. Wet the 
soil thoroughly. Place a glass on top to retain moisture 
and keep out possible light frost. These boxes should 
be kept in a moderately warm room and set close to a 
sunny window. On pleasant days they may be set on 
the open window sill and a stick placed crossways under 
the glass to give fresh air and keep the sun from burn- 
ing the plants with the vapor forming under the closed 
glass. A window box for summer use should be only 



82 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

ten inches wide, in which all manner of summer plants 
may be grown. 

COLD FRAMES. 

The construction of cold frames is very simple, and 
they can be made by any one. Have two boards six feet 
long for the sides and two boards three feet long for the 
ends. These boards need not be more than eight inches 
wide. Nail all four corners securely. Level the ground 
where the frame is to be. Set the frame on the surface. 
Fork up the soil inside, making the soil mellow, and you 
have a cold frame ready for the seed or plants. Place 
a three-by-six hotbed sash thereon when the weather is 
cold, and place a brick on end under the farthest side 
from the wind when the sun is warm, or the plants will 
be killed from overheat. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 83 



FRUITS. 



In dealing with the subject of fruits, we propose to do 
so in a general way, mentioning the methods best 
adapted to the wants of the small grower without giving 
the varieties. It is best for the planter to consult the 
nurseryman in regard to the varieties best suited to his 
particular locality and soil. 

APPLES. 

Apple trees vary considerably in form ; but when only 
two or three rows are to be planted, they may be set as 
close as eighteen feet each way without overcrowding. 
When planting apple trees, the top should lean a little 
to the southwest. If this is done, the hot summer sun 
will not burn the bark and weaken the trees. Dig the 
holes not less than one foot deep by two feet wide, 
placing the top soil on one side of the hole and the bot- 
tom soil on the other side. When setting the trees, be 
sure not to place them any deeper than they were when 
in the nursery rows. Place the soil that came from the 
top among the roots, leaving no air spaces, firming the 
soil well with the hands; then finish with the soil that 
came from the bottom of the hole and tramp it down 
solid. If the trees are five or six feet high, it would be 
well to drive a stout stake about three feet high, to which 
fasten the trees with soft cord until the roots have got- 
ten a firm hold. The apple does well in heavy clay or in 
rocky limestone soil. 



84 Flowebs, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

Apple trees do very well when planted in February, 
but will make some root growth through the winter if 
planted in November, thereby getting a better start than 
those set out in the spring. 

PEARS. 

Pears will do well with the same treatment and soil 
as the apple, but the standards can be set as close as fif- 
teen feet each way. The dwarf pears can be set as close 
as six feet. Cut off the top to two feet and cut off all 
side limbs, and there will be no need to stake them. 
Trim one-third of the tops every year or two for better 
fruitage. 

PEACHES. 

For best results, the peach should be grown on well- 
elevated situations, the north side of a hill preferred, as 
that situation is cooler than the south side, and on that 
account the sap does not flow soon enough for the fruit 
to be killed by a February freeze. The best soil is a 
sandy loam or a fertile gravelly land. 

When planting peach trees, cut the top off one foot 
from the ground. In so doing you encourage a low, 
spreading tree, from which it is easy to gather the fruit. 
The trees may be set as close as fourteen feet each way. 

Peach trees can be set in November, but we prefer 
planting them in February and March. 

PLUMS. 

Plum trees will grow anywhere and make an abun- 
dance of fruit every year. They are not particular as to 
soil. 

Plant plum trees in November, February, or March. 
Set the large-growing trees fifteen feet each way, trim 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 85 

off the limbs, and cut the top off about two feet from the 
ground. The dwarf, or Japanese, varieties can be 
planted as close as six or seven feet. 

DAMSON. 

The damson belongs to the plum family and requires 
the same treatment, but may be planted two or three 
feet closer, as they grow more upright. 

CHERRIES. 

When cherry trees are planted in rich soil, they often 
grow very large, sometimes as high as twenty-five or 
more feet and as much across ; but it requires many years 
to make such a growth. They may be set eighteen feet 
each way. 

Cherries will do well in any good garden soil. They 
can be planted any time in the fall or early spring. Trim 
to a straight stem, and cut off the top at three or four 
feet from the ground. 

GRAPES. 

Grapevines are of the easiest culture, and are often 
used as screens, trained in front of porches and on ar- 
bors. The best way to grow them for fruit is on the 
vineyard plan. Set in checks seven feet each way and 
support by stakes not over six feet high. By this 
method the vines can be easily worked over, and the fruit 
is easily harvested. 

Grapevines should be trimmed late in the autumn, 
after the sap has ceased to flow. All of the year-old 
wood above four or five feet from the ground should be 
cut away, leaving about two or three buds on the new 
growth. The vines from these two or three buds will 
produce an abundance of fruit. When trained over a 



86 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

trellis, cut out most of the old wood and cut off two- 
thirds of the new growth. 

BLACKBERRIES. 

The wild blackberries are greatly improved by cultiva- 
tion, but the improved varieties can be had cheap enough 
to justify growing them in quantity in the garden. 

Blackberries will flourish in the poorest of soil if a lit- 
tle old stable manure is thrown about the stems in the 
fall. The land should be prepared the same as for corn. 
It should be broken up in October and the plants set at 
once. Lay off the rows five feet apart and set the plants 
two feet apart in the rows. In the fall trim the stems to 
four or five feet. The fruit is produced from the lateral 
shoots that form in the spring. 

RASPBERRIES. 

Raspberries require much the same treatment as the 
blackberry, but can be planted closer. Make the rows 
four feet wide and set the plants eighteen or twenty 
inches in the rows. Cut the tops back to two feet in Oc- 
tober or November. All shoots that come up between 
the rows should be treated as weeds unless wanted to 
plant elsewhere. 

GOOSEBERRIES. 

Gooseberries should be planted by every one who has 
a garden, no matter how small. The bushes are tough 
and easily grown. All they require is good soil that is 
well drained and about two inches deep of old stable ma- 
nure spread around the plants about two feet wide. The 
bushes should be set in October or November, about 
eighteen or twenty inches apart in the rows and two feet 
between the rows. In the fall trim the ends of the 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 87 

branches two or three inches to induce lateral growth 
and consequently more fruit. 

Some varieties are more prolific than others, and some 
are suited to one section better than to another, so that 
the nurseryman must be consulted as to varieties. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

The strawberry is conceded to be the most luscious of 
all fruits known to cultivation, a universal favorite, yet 
grown by only a few in the kitchen garden. A patch of 
twenty-five by fifty feet will furnish berries for a family 
of four or five for more than a month, if early, medium, 
and late varieties are planted. 

Straw^berries should be set fifteen to twenty inches in 
the row and two feet between the rows when only a 
small, hand-cultivated patch is required. Pinch off the 
runners,' leaving two crowns; and when cultivating, 
throw the runners into the row as much as possible. 
Late in the summer let the annual grasses, such as fox- 
tail and crab grass, grow. It will fall on the ground and 
form a mulch to keep the frost out, and also keep the 
berries free from grit. 

Strawberries should be planted in April, so that the 
plants will get established before winter and will not be 
thrown out of the ground by the heavy freezes, as often 
happens when planted in late summer. In the Southern 
States they are planted in the autumn. 

Pinch ofif all blooms the first season. That will make 
more vigorous plants, and will produce about double the 
amount of fruit. 

Strawberry plants should be reset every third or 
fourth year, preparing the ground by thoroughly work- 
ing over the soil. Add a little well-rotted stable manure 
to the soil. 



88 Flo WEES, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 



VEGETABLES, 



SITUATION OF THE LAND. 

For early vegetables or flowers the lay of the land 
should be considered as carefully as the condition of the 
soil, for therein lies the early or the late garden. If the 
land should be on the north side of a hill, it will natu- 
rally remain cold longer than a piece of land on the same 
hill, but on the south side, where the sun's rays strike 
more directly on the earth, warming the land at least ten 
days earlier than the land on the north side. Conse- 
quently vegetation will mature about ten days earlier 
when growing on a southern or southeastern exposure. 
The result should be apparent to a close observer. The 
rays of the sun when falling directly on the earth will 
radiate more heat than when falling on the earth at a 
longer slant. If the land is exposed to cold winds, a 
high, close board fence or close-growing hedge on the 
north and west sides will conduce to earlier crops. 

GARDEN SOILS. 

For all garden purposes the best soil is a deep sandy 
loam, not less than nine or ten inches deep. To convey 
our meaning we will state that any soil with an under- 
lying stratum of sand or gravel is known as a sandy 
loam. If the subsoil is of clay formation, the top soil is 
usually of the same nature, and is what is known as 
'■' clay loam," which is more compact than sandy loam, 
and is heavier to work, being sticky when wet. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 89 

It is a waste of time and of seed to attempt a crop on 
what is known as " thin land " — that is, clay only, with 
no top dressing of soil at all. It is true there are some 
plants that will do very well on such land, but they do 
not come under the head of what is known as " garden 
stuff." Such land will grow good crops of cow, clay, 
and whippoorwill peas ; and these crops serve to improve 
such land. The goober pea will make good crops on 
thin land, the crop making fewer vines, but a superior 
fruit, consisting of more oil and less water than those 
grown on rich land. 

Pure sand or gravel is also considered thin land. If 
sand with no clay beneath, fertilizing will be of little ben- 
efit, as with the first heavy rain that comes it will be lost 
in the bottomless bed of sand. 

Gravelly land is often rich, and is often cultivated in 
the coarser crops, such as corn and different kinds of 
hay; but it is not suited to root crops. If the gravelly 
land is poor, about fifty farm wagon loads of stable ma- 
nure to the acre will produce good results with almost 
all kinds of vegetables that mature their crops above 
ground. 

If the clay land remains wet long after a rain and is 
very sticky and unyielding in its nature, it is often im- 
proved by spreading one to two tons of fresh stone lime 
to the acre. This should be done in the autumn, the 
lime producing a more porous condition that makes the 
land easier to work. The next spring a heavy crop of 
cow or clay peas should be sown broadcast on the land 
and well plowed in and harrowed well to reduce the clods 
as much as possible ; and when the peas cover the ground 
eight or ten inches deep, plow them under, and the re- 
sult will be richer and more friable soil to cultivate there- 
after. The nitrogen conveyed to the soil through the 



90 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

growth of the cow or clay peas acts as a powerful stimu- 
lant to the crops that follow such treatment. 

RECLAIMED WET LAND, PONDS, ETC. 

Ponds and lakes, when well drained and allowed to dry 
out thoroughly before being plowed, often produce the 
finest crops of vegetables, especially Irish potatoes, cab- 
bage, onions, beets, celery, salsify, turnips, asparagus, 
etc. 

AUTUMN PLANTING. 

As the preparation of the vegetable garden is usually 
begun in the autumn, we propose first to introduce the 
cultivation of the onion. Onion sets for early spring use 
should be planted in the latter part of August or first 
part of September in rows not closer than ten inches 
wide and not closer than three inches in the row. Be- 
ing planted at that time, they will get well rooted and 
be large enough for table use before freezing weather. 
The growth the plants will make through the warm days 
in February and March will make them presentable for 
the table by the fifteenth of March. They should be by 
that time nearly one inch in diameter. To make them 
show more white stem, they should be banked up with 
a little earth in the late autumn; but it should not be 
done when the ground is wet, as it will dry out hard in 
the sunny days and will do more harm than good. 

The first matter to be considered is the preparation of 
the soil. The best soil for the growing of the onion is a 
new sod land of sandy loam broken up and thoroughly 
pulverized. There should be no stable manure used on 
onion land unless you are absolutely sure that it is thor- 
oughly decomposed and fully one year old, and then it 
should be spread evenly over the surface after the sets 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 91 

have been placed in the fall. After the crop has been 
harvested in the spring, the manure v^ill be worked in 
when preparing for the summer crop, and it will serve 
to lighten the soil as well as fertilize the summer crops. 

Shallots, or scallions, should be planted in August or 
early September. They are increased by division of the 
old roots, by planting the sets that form on the top of 
the old plants or from seed. Shallots, or scallions, are 
only fit to use early in the spring. When warm weather 
sets in, they get strong in flavor and are too tough for 
use. 

Chives are a dwarf species of the onion. They are in- 
creased by division of the roots. They form large 
clumps, which have several hundred small sets matted 
together. They also grow from seed. Only the tops 
are used generally in flavoring soups, batter cakes, home- 
made cream cheese, etc. No one knows how to flavor 
with chives better than the French or German housewife. 
The flavor of chives is more delicate than that of the 
onion. 

GARLIC. 

Garlic is also of the onion family, and most Americans 
have to acquire a taste for the powerfully odoriferous 
esculent. The whole onion family are known botan- 
ically as the " allium." Some are cultivated for their 
flowers, which are really beautiful, being much used in 
cut-flower work. 

ONIONS FROM SEED SOWN IN THE SPRING. 

To grow large onions from seed, the soil should be a 
rich sandy loam, new sod land being preferred, as there 
is no stable manure likely to be on such land. It holds 
moisture well, is easy to work with the hoe and the fin- 



92 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

gers, which is the best way to work the onion. To keep 
down weeds in the rows, as soon as the little plants get 
a good hold in the ground place about half an inch of 
soil to the plants. In one week go along the rows and 
with the fingers rake the earth away again. Then hoe 
out the middle of the row to kill the weeds there. In 
about ten days throw the earth to the plants again, and 
in another ten days repeat the process as above. 

Seed sown in the open ground about the first of March 
in rows not closer than twelve inches wide and thinned 
out to three inches in the row will give room to grow 
fine large bulbs that will mature in the early summer. 
If it is not desirable to grow very large onions, the plants 
can be left as close as two inches and make bulbs large 
enough to please the ordinary dealer. 

A very satisfactory process for growing large onions 
from seed is to sow the seed of some good kind of large- 
growing onion in the hotbed from February 1 to March 
1 in rows three inches apart and one-fourth of an inch 
or more apart in the rows. About April 15 the plants 
should be nearly as large as a lead pencil, and should be 
taken from the bed at that time and transplanted in the 
open ground in rows twelve inches wide, and the plants 
set in the rows four inches apart, having first cut off the 
roots to half an inch, and cut one-third from the tops, 
and set them about two inches deep, and water each row 
as soon as you finish it to set the earth around the roots 
to prevent injury from drying. The plants while out of 
the ground should be exposed to the sun as little as pos- 
sible, as such treatment will stunt them, interfering with 
the development of large bulbs. 

We find the best way to do the work is to have a 
boy with a double-pointed dibber. Have the boy to 
go ahead. The first time he puts down the dibber he 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 93 

will make two holes. The next move he will place one 
point in the farthest hole so as to gauge the holes to just 
four inches every move. A second person should have 
a basket of plants, dropping one at each hole. A third 
should follow, carefully setting the plants upright and 
seeing that they are deep enough in the ground. Imme- 
diately after planting a row, water it enough to set the 
plant if the season is dry; if the ground is moist, there 
will be no need to water. After one week from plant- 
ing, use liquid manure poured in a shallow trench about 
four inches away from the plants, and throw the earth 
back in the trench as soon as through with fertilising to 
cause the earth to absorb the liquid as much as possible. 
Keep the weeds down. Go over the ground with the hoe 
every ten days, and give liquid manure every twenty 
days, and you will have something to be proud of before 
August. 

Watch the crop closely. When the plants are fully 
grown, the necks will get soft and the tops will fall over. 
The most common method of planting in the small gar- 
den is from sets planted in February and March. They 
require high cultivation and the same kind of soil in 
which the seedlings are grown and the same kind of fer- 
tilizer. Plant in rows twelve inches wide and three or 
four inches in the row. If you wish to grow large bulbs, 
plant four inches apart. Harvest as soon as ripe — that 
is, when the plants get soft just above the bulb so that 
the tops fall over and when the bulbs pull up as if they 
had no roots. Always place them in a cool, dry place 
where the wind will not blow on them. 

Cultivate onions every ten days to keep down weeds, 
and also to keep the surface of the soil light, which in- 
duces a regular supply of moisture, which is very essen- 
tial to any rapid-growing plant. 



94 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

LEEKS. 

The leek is a variety of the onion, the seeds of which 
can be sown in September, about the first week, making 
nice young plants about the middle of October. The 
plants should be set in permanent rows not closer than 
ten inches apart and about two inches apart in the row. 
Some gardeners sow the seed in the permanent row and 
thin out to the proper distance. Of course that makes 
longer rows to weed than the short, thickly sown seed 
row. 

About every ten days use the wheel hoe or hand hoe 
freely, and work as close to the plants as possible not to 
cut them down; then knock the little weeds that have 
just sprouted by working crossways of the rows with 
the fingers, afterwards replacing the earth thus removed, 
using the hoe, to prevent the sun from burning the stems 
that the earth had been removed from in the process of 
weeding. 

LETTUCE. 

The proper soil for the successful growing of lettuce 
should be an open soil that has been well broken up to 
the depth of ten inches or more. If the soil is close or 
is of clay, about one-half inch of sharp sand or coal ashes 
should be spread over the land and well forked in to 
thoroughly incorporate the soil and sand or ashes. 

Three or four inches of well-rotted stable manure 
added to heavy clay soils will also greatly assist in loos- 
ening the clay, and it also makes the finest of fertilizers. 

Lettuce being impatient of a heavy wet soil, is in- 
clined to rot if it grows at all. Lettuce revels in a soil 
that admits of a free circulation of air at the roots. 

For winter and early spring use, lettuce seed should be 
sown in any convenient place out of doors about the first 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 95 

of September. The seed should be sown thinly so as 
to have nice, stalky plants to be placed in the cold frames 
in October. The plants should be set five or six inches 
each way to give room for nice, large plants. 

Of the many varieties of lettuce, the Big Boston seems 
to be the most useful in the hands of the amateur. It is 
a good outdoor lettuce, and does well in the cold frame 
in winter. It makes a large plant and a solid header, 
makes a fine show, and has a most excellent flavor. 

The Hanson Improved is also a fine variety, and has 
the advantage of standing the hot summer sun. 

For early summer use, lettuce seed should be sown 
thinly in rows in the cold frame in February. The small 
plants can be thinned out for table use or transplanted 
into permanent rows in April, the rows to be about four- 
teen inches apart, and the plants should be about six 
inches apart in the rows. Keep the weeds down by hoe- 
ing the crop every ten days. 

ENDIVE. 

Sow in June, July, and August. Cover the seeds 
lightly. When up, thin out to eight inches apart, and 
water well afterwards if the weather is dry. When the 
leaves are six or eight inches long, bleach them by gath- 
ering the leaves up close and tying with soft twine. 
They should be tied when dry, or they will rot. When 
the weather gets very cold, take the plants up with a ball 
of earth and place them close together in a cold frame 
or dry cellar for winter use. The endive is used as salad, 
and is fine for garnishing. Almost any good soil will 
grow endive if water does not stand long on the surface 
after rains. 



96 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

CABBAGE, EARLY. 

The best soil for cabbage should be a heavy, rich loam 
on which water does not stand long after a rain. On 
such a soil, with an abundance of stable manure, excel- 
lent crops can be grown. 

For early spring cabbage, the seed should be sown 
about the first of October. If sown sooner, the plants 
may run to seed in the spring instead of making heads. 
In about four or five weeks the plants will be large 
enough to set in the cold frames where they are to be 
protected from cold, wind, and snow; and when the sun 
shines very warm, give them all the air possible. A 
light freeze will not hurt. The sash should be tilted an 
inch or two to prevent the plants from being injured 
from the heat that accumulates under the closed sash. 
Be careful when setting the young plants in the cold 
frames to set them as deep as the first leaves, press 
firmly, and tilt the sash several inches every day when 
there is no freezing; but when the thermometer drops 
to about fifteen above zero, cover the sash well with 
old carpet or any heavy fabric, even a few inches of ma- 
nure or earth, which can be washed off when the weather 
moderates in February. Transplant some of the plants 
from the cold frame at once, as nice days are of short du- 
ration in February. If there is no severe cold or heavy 
snow, you will have cabbage nicely headed two weeks 
earlier than when planted in March. In March plant the 
remainder out for the main spring crop. 

When planting early cabbage of the Wakefield or 
Early Flat Dutch type, plant them about twenty or 
twenty-four inches each way; and for the smaller kinds, 
such as Etampes and Early Express, plant them in rows 
two feet wide and fourteen to eighteen inches in the row. 

If you desire to practice intensive gardening, you can 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 97 

sow lettuce and radish seed in the rows with the cab- 
bage, as they will be out of the way before the cabbage 
will begin to cover the ground. 

Work the ground once a week and keep ahead of the 
weeds. Every second week throw a little earth up to 
the plants so they will be well hilled up at the last work- 
ing. 

CABBAGE, LATE. 

For late or winter cabbage, the seed should be sown 
in the first week in June, and should be protected from 
the noonday sun by driving forked stakes to hold poles 
laid in the forks. The poles should be three feet from 
the ground and a light cover of brush or Aveeds laid 
across so as to let about as much sunlight pass through 
as would be allowed by common lattice work, and the 
plants set out in July or the first of August. The late 
cabbage, being of a more robust nature, should be trans- 
planted into permanent rows three feet wide and about 
thirty inches in the row. A little' bone flour, about one 
tablespoonful to the plant, mixed with the soil immedi- 
ately around the roots, will improve the condition of the 
plants wonderfully. 

CAULIFLOWER IN COLD FRAMES, EARLY. 

Cauliflower requires almost precisely the same treat- 
ment as cabbage. The only difference is that the cauli- 
flower requires more fertilizer and more moisture. 

The very early sorts should be grown under glass in 
cold frames, which hold the moisture and protect the 
plants from heavy frost. The soil in the cold frame 
should be about one-half well-rotted manure, and should 
never be allowed to get the least bit dry. About one- 
half pint of liquid manure to each plant about every 
4 



98 Flowees, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

twenty days will force a rapid growth, making nice, crisp 
heads. 

The plants should be set about ten inches each way 
when planted in cold frames. The plants for the early 
crop should be from seed sown in October in a cold 
frame and protected with the sash through the winter; 
and also cover with mats, straw, or manure on the glass. 
The cauliflower does not stand cold as well as the cab- 
bage and needs more attention. 

The earliest spring crop should be set in the cold 
frame. in February and the glass raised on one side three 
or four inches on warm days to prevent overheating and 
scalding the plants. 

CAULIFLOWER, SUMMER. 

For an early summer crop of cauliflower, the seed can 
be sown about the first of February in a window box, 
flower pit, or under a sash in the garden ; and when large 
enough to handle, plant them out in the garden in rows 
eighteen inches wide and ten inches in the row, and treat 
the same as early cabbage. Give them liquid manure 
every twenty days ; about half a teacupful will be enough. 
Allow no weeds to get a start, keep the ground stirred 
with the hoe, and throw a little earth to the plants as 
they grow larger. In early spring there is always suffi- 
cient rain for cauliflower growing in the garden, but a 
liberal supply of liquid fertilizer is always rewarded by 
better results. 

ASPARAGUS. 

If the grower wishes to raise his own stock of aspar- 
agus, he should sow the seeds thinly in rows twelve or 
fourteen inches wide the last week in March or the first 
week in April. One ounce of seed will produce three 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc 99 

hundred and fifty or four hundred plants, which will be 
more than enough for a large family. 

To have strong plants, thin the seedlings to three or 
four inches in the rows, leaving the strongest plants ; 
and when placing in the permanent rows or bed, you 
should choose the strongest in the rows. Do the last 
planting in February, as there are fewer roots lost in that 
month than when planting in autumn. Plant in rich 
sandy loam about eighteen inches deep, into which has 
been worked plenty of well-rotted stable manure. If you 
are compelled to use a clay soil, you can manage very 
well by making a trench fifteen inches deep and fifteen 
inches wide. Then place four inches of rotted stable ma- 
nure in the bottom. On top of the manure place four 
inches of the best soil taken from the trench, and mix 
thoroughly with a garden fork. Tramp this down. To 
firm it a little, throw about one inch of the best soil taken 
from the trench onto this to keep the broken roots from 
coming in contact with the manure and causing them to 
rot before they get started into growth. Then place the 
roots in the trench just prepared twelve inches apart. 
Then take of sand, rotted manure, and soil from the 
trench and mix them well together, using one-third of 
each, and cover the roots about three inches deep ; and 
then on this fill up the trench about an inch above the 
common level with nothing but rotted manure (coal 
ashes make a good substitute for sand, but should be put 
through a half-inch sieve). In setting the roots in any 
sort of soil, they should be placed about seven or eight 
inches deep. When set that deep, there will be no need 
to make ridges on top of the plants. If the plants are in 
good condition when set, they will easily come through 
eight inches of top dressing. 



100 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

ASPARAGUS IN BEDS. 

A good arrangement for asparagus culture for the 
kitchen garden is to grow it in beds. The most con- 
venient is five feet wide, with three rows in the bed, leav- 
ing one foot from each side and one foot between rows, 
and one foot in the row and eight inches deep. 

CARROTS, EARLY. 

Any rich soil will grow good carrots ; but a light, rich 
soil will grow them much finer. If you desire a few very 
early roots, sow the seed in a hotbed or a cold frame if 
the weather is mild in February. About the fifteenth of 
March sow in the open ground. If they are killed by 
frost, sow again early in April for the main crop. Make 
the rows not closer than twelve inches, and thin out to 
four or five inches in the row. 

For a late crop of carrots, sow the seed from the fif- 
teenth of July to the tenth of August; keep the weeds 
down, and hoe deep to keep the soil loose. 

CELERY. 

The seed should be sown in a light, rich border as early 
as the soil can be worked in April, in drills from seven to 
ten inches apart. Cover the seeds about half an inch 
deep, using a roller or board to firm the seeds in the 
ground if the ground is dry. When the plants are two 
inches high, they may be transplanted to another bed or 
thinned out to three inches apart and left to grow until 
wanted to plant out in beds or trenches. The seed beds 
should be kept free from weeds ; and if the weather is 
dry, the plants should be watered occasionally — should 
be given a regular soaking. In setting the plants, do not 



Flowers, Fruits, Veoetables, Etc 101 

forget to press the earth firmly around the roots, which 
is of much importance. 

The plants should not be planted in permanent beds 
or rows before September. For this section the first 
week in October is a better time, as the summer drought 
will be at an end by that time ; and celery being of a very 
rapid growth, it will be mature by the time real cool 
weather sets in. Set the plants in shallow trenches, 
about four inches below the common level. The plants 
may be set in a narrow trench, or the trench may be 
made into a bed wide enough for three or four rows, and 
in this case the plants are in a compact form to be cov- 
ered for the winter where they grow. This will save la- 
bor where there is no cellar for storage. When grown 
in beds, the rows should be one foot wide and the plants 
about seven inches in the row. The bed should be made 
very rich, with thoroughly rotted manure. 

The plants should be earthed up two or three times, 
being careful not to let the earth get into the heart of 
the plants. With one hand gather the stalks together, 
and with the other hand draw the earth around the 
plants, pressing firmly. Do this in dry weather. 

In field growing of celery the plants are set in rows 
about four feet wide, and the plants set six inches apart 
in the row when the plants are to be earthed up for early 
use; and when the plants are to be bleached in the cel- 
lar for winter use, they should be planted only two feet 
wide in rows and six inches in the row. 

If the celery is not grown in beds, the best way to store 
it is to dig trenches where water does not stand. Make 
the trenches twelve inches wide and about two-thirds the 
depth of the plants. The celery is then taken up and set 
close together, pushing the roots firmly together, putting 
no earth between them. When severe weather comes. 



102 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

cover the rows up with straw or leaves, adding more as 
the weather gets colder. Place boards on top to keep 
out rain and to hold down the covering of straw. 

CELERIAC, OR TURNIP-ROOTED CELERY. 

This belongs to the celery family. Only the root or 
bulb is used for flavoring soups ; and when boiled and 
sliced, it makes a most excellent salad. The best results in 
culture is to plant in medium garden soil, sowing the seed 
in April in rows as close as twelve inches. Drop a small 
pinch of seed every six inches apart in the row ; and 
when they are well up, pull out all but one plant; work 
them over every eight days ; let no weeds get a start ; 
and when the bulbs begin to form, pull off the lower 
stalks as they mature, and you will get larger bulbs. 
This plant is grown on level land and requires no bank- 
ing up. It may also be sown in seed bed like celery and 
transplanted to permanent rows. Celeriac can be stored 
in winter like beets and turnips. 

BEANS (SNAPS), EARLY BUNCH. 

Wheat is first in importance as a food for man. As a 
farinaceous food for man and beast, the bean ranks next 
to wheat. All of the essentials to the building up of 
bone, muscle, fat, blood, nerve, and brain are to be found 
in the make-up of the bean. In the hands of the hybrid- 
izer the bean has been wonderfully improved, so that we 
have a crop from early spring until frost. For bunch 
beans for snaps, use any good soil. They will do very 
well in heavy clay if some old manure is forked in when 
preparing the soil. The ground need not be broken 
deeper than ten inches. Plant in rows twenty inches 
wide and drop the seed three inches apart in the rows. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 103 

To economize in land, plant two rows eight or ten inches 
apart, then leave a space of twenty inches; then two 
more rows, and repeat, etc. Hoe when the seed have 
come up, and at ten days, and at twenty days ; and at 
thirty days finish cultivation by throwing the earth to 
the plants. By this time the plants will about cover the 
ground. 

It is not a good idea to plant bean seed over two inches 
deep. They will often rot if the ground is wet, and sev- 
eral days will b"e lost on account of the depth of soil the 
seed has to grow through. 

To have a succession of snaps, seed should be planted 
every two weeks, the last planting about August 1. 

BEANS, WHITE AND NAVY. 

Some of these can be used as a string bean, but are in- 
tended to be used as a shelled bean or for winter use 
when dry. They are all of fine flavor, and are among 
the healthiest of foods. They do well in almost any gar- 
den soil without much fertilizing; and if the weeds are 
kept down for seven or eight weeks, the crop is made, 
and is harvested by pulling up the plants as soon as the 
beans are all ripe. Leave on the ground to dry out ; and 
when perfectly dry, they can be thrashed out with a flail, 
straight stick, or by tramping on them on a sheet in the 
field or on a floor. 

BEANS, BUSH LIMA. 

All lima beans are known by their flat appearance, and 
they are the most delicious of all the bean family, and 
are commonly called " butter beans." We refer you now 
to the variety that requires no stakes, as they do not 
grow over twenty or thirty inches high, with stiff stems 



104 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

that carry the fruit clear of the ground. If it is desirable 
to grow this variety for dry beans, they can be left until 
all of the fruit is dry; and they can be harvested all at 
one time by pulling up the plants and laying them in 
small heaps to dry the stems ; and when dry, they can be 
stacked like hay until a convenient time to clean them 
out for use, or they may be gathered as they ripen. 
They do well on any soil. They will make beans on 
poor land. They should not be planted until the ground 
is warm, as they will not come up well when the ground 
is cold or very wet. Plant the very dwarf varieties in 
rows about two feet wide and drop the seed about ten 
or twelve inches in the row. For the largest bush limas 
the rows should be thirty inches wide and eighteen or 
twenty inches in the row. Try your first planting about 
April 1. 

BEANS, POLE. 

Pole beans should not be planted before the ground 
gets warm and dry. For this section April 15 is early 
enough. Some of the pole beans do well in the corn 
rows. The seed should be planted when the corn is 
about knee high or less. The vines will climb on the 
corn for a support. Poles for beans should be about 
seven feet long for best results. The beans should be 
planted in hills three feet or three and one-half feet each 
way. The pole beans do best in a deep sandy loam, 
whether they are pole beans, butter beans, or pole snap 
beans. If the lima or butter bean seed are very large, 
they will come up better if placed with the eye down in 
the bottom of a very shallow furrow. Press the seed 
down firmly, but do not cover deep. They will come 
up, and you can throw the soil to them as they grow. 
If planted in hills, they should be set three to a hill, 
about one inch deep, with the fingers, turning the eye 



Flowees, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 105 

down. Hoe the crop every ten days to keep ahead of 
weeds. 

The pole lima bean should be planted in rows about 
thirty inches wide and about twenty inches apart in the 
rows, the poles to be set as soon as the vines start to run. 
This is for hand cultivation. For horse cultivation, the 
rows should be not less than three feet wide; and for 
thorough cultivation, they should be checked each way, 
with three plants in each check, with a six-foot stake in 
the middle. In the latter case the setting of the poles 
should be put off as long as possible. 

TABLE BEETS. 

The beet revels in a rich soil. It can hardly be made 
too rich. But they will do well enough for ordinary use 
in almost any mellow soil, whether it be limestone, sand- 
stone, or alkaline. Sow the seed as early in the spring 
as the soil can be prepared, in rows not closer than 
twelve inches, and thin out to four inches in the row. 
If desirable for successive crops, sow the seed every two 
or three weeks. The early deep red, globe-shape, are 
the nicest for table use. Table beet seed sown as late 
as August 10 in this section will make nice bulbs to place 
in the cellar or to put in hills in the garden for winter 
use. Cut the tops off, pile them up like a pyramid, and 
cover with about three inches of earth in the early part 
of the winter; and when it gets very cold, cover to the 
depth of eight or ten inches, throw some straw on the 
hills, and place some boards to keep the wind from blow- 
ing it off. 



106 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

MANGEL-WURZEL, OR STOCK BEETS. 

As these beets grow to a large size, the ground should 
be broken up as deep as twelve inches. Use plenty of 
stable manure, working it well into the soil. Make the 
rows as close as eighteen inches. Sow the seed in April ; 
and when the plants are about four inches high, thin 
out to seven or eight inches in the row. Keep the weeds 
back by hoeing every eight or ten days. At the ap- 
proach of frost they should be pulled up and placed in 
hills about five feet to the apex and covered lightly with 
straw or coarse grass until light freezes; then a little 
earth should be placed over this, adding more earth as 
the weather gets colder until there is about eight or 
ten inches of earth covering. Covering gradually pre- 
vents heating and rotting of the crop. In placing in the 
cellar, air spaces would have to be left to prevent the 
roots from heating there also. Grow in quantity for 
stock feeding. 

BEET, SUGAR, 

This product requires the same treatment as the 
mangel-wurzel up to the time it reaches the sugar mill. 
This variety is also fine to feed and fatten cattle, as it 
contains a very large per cent of sugar. It also makes 
an excellent vinegar. It is very pale in color. 

BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 

Brussels sprouts are considered by many to be equal 
to cauliflower for the table. The sprout proper is not 
much larger than a marble and as hard as the stalk on 
which it grows. When preparing for use, remove the 
outer covering. Cook whole and serve without break- 
ing them up. When just cooked through, they are a 
dish fit for the gods. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 107 

Sow the seed early in April in a seed bed in some con- 
venient place, laying off rows about three inches apart, 
and drop the seed as near as you can to one inch in the 
row. About May 1 transplant to the garden in rows 
twenty inches wide and one foot in the rows. 

This is one of the hardiest vegetables we know. It 
will stand as much cold as any variety of winter kale 
without protection. And it does not require rich soil, 
either. It will do well in heavy clay soil, provided you 
add a little stable manure. The weeds must not be al- 
lowed a start, as collards will do no better than cabbage 
when weeds are allowed to grow. Hoe deep and often 
about every eight days if the weather is dry. 

CORN SALAD, OR FETTICUS. 

Corn salad is used as a salad in the same way as let- 
tuce, and is also cooked like spinach. The seed should 
be sown in a bed, laying off the rows three or four inches 
wide. Sow the seed thinly ; and when about two inches 
high, transplant to the garden rows twelve inches wide 
and six inches in the rows. Work over the crop once a 
week with the hoe. Corn salad can be set in cold frames 
at the approach of cold weather. For winter use, set 
them about five inches each way. They do not grow 
as large as lettuce, and, therefore, do not need so much 
room. Protect them from severe cold and snow. 

If left to winter in the garden, the plants should be 
lightly covered with straw or leaves, thus keeping the 
wind and snow off, that they may remain in better con- 
dition for very early spring use. 

Corn salad is not so particular as to soil. It will do 
well in any ordinary garden. Allow no weeds, and hoe 
about every ten or twelve days. 



108 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

CORN, EARLY, SWEET OR SUGAR. 

It is a well-established fact that the richer the ground, 
the larger the ears and the more ears to -the stalk. To 
meet with the best success with early corn, the ground 
should be very rich, using plenty of stable manure, 
spreading it thickly over the land in October and No- 
vember, so the fertilizer can be carried into the soil with 
the late fall rains. Break the land up in February, lay- 
ing off the rows at once three feet each way, so that, 
should rain interfere with later plowing, you can drop 
about six grains to the hill where the two furrows cross, 
and cover with a hoe. Even if rain is falling, it will 
make little difference so early in the season. To work 
under the same conditions in the early summer, the hot 
sun shining on the wet land just worked over would 
render it so hard and cloddy that there would be almost 
a loss of the crop. When the plants are about seven 
inches high, pull out all but three stalks. If a frost kills 
it to the ground before it makes a joint, it will come up 
again and make just as good a crop ; but if on examina- 
tion you find the root frozen, plant again. It is hardly 
worth while to plant early corn in this section before 
March 15. At that time it is very likely to be killed by 
frost ; but if there should be an early spring, it would be 
very gratifying to have extra early roasting ears. If the 
seed should be planted the first of April, you are almost 
certain to make a crop. It should be ready for the table 
in eight or nine weeks. As there is usually much rain 
at this season, there may be little chance to use the hoe. 
In that case it may be necessary to pull out the larger 
weeds by hand when they get several inches high. 

If you wish to grow early corn in rows, lay them oflF 
three feet wide and drop two or three grains every eight 
to twelve inches in the row, thinning out to one or two 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 109 

stalks at each place after the plants are too large for the 
cutworm to destroy. (A cutworm will cut off a plant 
larger than a lead pencil.) Some gardeners claim that 
more ears can be grown in the rows on an acre than in 
hills. For quantity we are partial to the row system. 

CORN, FIELD. 

All the varieties of field corn require good land to give 
best results. If the land is rich, the rows should be laid 
off both ways, as near as possible east and west. The 
rows running east and west should be four feet apart; 
the rows north and south, three feet apart. By that 
arrangement the crop will get more sunlight. If the 
land is inclined to be poor, the rows must be five feet 
east and west and four feet north and south, so that 
there will be plenty of sunlight and that the roots will 
have more soil from which to take up nourishment. 

This crop can be planted the first of April. Drop 
about five grains to the hill ; and when larger than a lead 
pencil, thin out to three stalks to the hill on rich land 
and two or only one plant to the hill on poor land. 

Corn land should be worked over every ten days to 
keep down weeds and to encourage moisture to rise when 
there is not sufficient rain. AVhen the earth is kept 
loose, it acts like a blanket to keep the wind from draw- 
ing the moisture from the ground. If a succession of 
roasting ears are desired, plant every three weeks until 
July. 

CORN, POP. 

This crop can be planted at any time from April 1 to 
July 1, and will yield an abundant crop. The best time 
is in the early part of April. Plant in rows. Drop three 
grains every twelve inches ; and when about ten inches 
high, thin out, leaving one plant every twelve inches. 



110 Flowees, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc 

Do not harvest until the stalk is thoroughly dry. When 
gathered in that condition, the grains will be well de- 
veloped and will pop freely. Cultivate the same as field 
corn. 

CRESS, GARDEN. 

Upland cress is similar to the common water cress, 
but it will grow on dry land. The richer the land, the 
finer the crop. The curled or pepper-grass and plain- 
leaved sorts are of the same nature ; but the broad-leaved 
variety does best in damp soil, doing much better in au- 
tumn and early spring than in summer. 

Sow the seed of any of the above in March. If you 
wish a succession, sow every three weeks. Sow the seed 
thickly in rows ten inches wide, so that when the plants 
are three or four inches tall you can cut it off almost to 
the ground, and it will come again and again, furnish- 
ing several cuttings. 

Cress is useful not only for salad, but for the break- 
fast table, like lettuce, and for garnishing. 

CUCUMBERS. 

For a very early crop of cucumbers, sow the seed in 
the richest sandy loam in the garden about April 20, for 
the best results placing the hills four feet each way. 
When large enough to show signs of running, thin out 
to three of the strongest plants. Alwa3^s use plenty of 
seed, from six to ten seed to a hill, as this plant seems 
t© have numerous enemies. 

As the early plants will naturally fail in a short time, 
it is well to plant a few hills every two or three weeks 
for a succession. 

When wanted for pickling, the seed should be planted 
from the middle of June to the middle of July. Sod 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. Ill 

land, when broken up in the autumn, is an ideal soil. 
In each hill place a shovel of well-rotted manure, mixing 
it in well with the top soil; but be sure not to place it 
in the bottom of the hill, as it will prevent moisture from 
rising in a dry season and will kill the plants. 

As cucumbers and the rest of the melon family seem 
to have more insect enemies than most other plants, it 
is well to keep an eye on the plants from the moment 
they sprout and apply the remedy at once. We have 
had to apply the insecticide to the hills when the plants 
had just cracked the ground, as the insects would go 
into the cracks after the sprouting seedlings. 

Cucumbers should be hoed over once a week until the 
vines cover half the ground. Afterwards the most nox- 
ious weeds should be pulled out by hand. 

There are varieties of the cucumber that are intended 
to be handled only by the market gardener. They are 
grown in hotbeds and in greenhouses. So when select- 
ing seed, get those best suited to the garden. 

In combating the insects, use the tobacco insecticide 
referred to on page of insecticides. 

EGGPLANT. 

The eggplant is a tropical vegetable, and will not stand 
much cold; and as it grows and matures its fruit rather 
slowly, the seed should be sown in a window box in 
March. The plants are stout and spread out consider- 
ably. When they are three inches tall, transplant them. 
When the weather is warm, about the first of May is the 
best time. 

They will do well in almost any good soil if there is 
plenty of moisture in the ground and they are given a 
pint of liquid fertilizer to the plant about every twenty 



112 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

days. Keep the weeds in check by stirring the ground 
once a week. Plant in rows two feet wide and two feet 
apart in the rows. If the land is very rich, plant three 
feet each way. 

If the potato bugs infest the plants, use the Bordeaux 
mixture with arsenate of lead. As the fruits of this 
plant are always peeled for use, there will be no poison 
left on them. 

OKRA. 

Okra should be sown early in March ; and if by chance 
a frost should injure the young plants, renew the plant- 
ing at once; but first pour boiling water on the seeds in 
a shallow vessel and leave to cool in the water. By this 
process the boiling water cracks the hard seed shell with- 
out injuring the germ, and the seed will sprout at once. 
If not treated in this manner, the seed will require six 
or seven weeks to come up. 

This vegetable is highly esteemed by nearly every one. 

Okra will thrive in any good garden soil ; but if some 
old stable manure is worked in with the soil when work- 
ing the crop, the plants will be much finer and will bear 
later. If you wish a late fall crop, sow seed in July. 

Okra should be in rows three feet wide, and the seed 
should be placed three or four every ten inches ; and 
when well started, pull out all but the strongest plant. 
Keep the weeds in check until the plants are a foot high. 
Being of a weedy nature, this plant does not yield read- 
ily to the inroads of weeds. Okra is highly esteemed 
for soups and stews. 

HORSE-RADISH. 

This plant should be in every garden. It is a splen- 
did relish, and is in much demand in the city markets in 
winter and spring. 



Flo WEES, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 113 

Horse-radish is propagated from pieces of the roots, 
which should be seven to ten inches long and as large 
as a lead pencil. The cuttings should be set in the 
ground, with the upper end four inches below the sur- 
face, in rows two feet wide and about fourteen inches 
apart in the row. Be sure to place the sets upright, so 
that the roots will form only one crown. Two or three 
times through the summer run around each root with 
a long, two-edged piece of hardwood shaped like a 
sword, going down seven or eight inches. This breaks 
off all side roots, making straight and smooth pieces 
when dug. 

Horse-radish does best in a deep, rich sandy loam, and 
requires little cultivation after it gets a start, as it has 
a heavy top growth that shades the ground too much for 
weeds to grow. In preparing the ground, break it up 
not less than fourteen inches deep. It is perfectly hardy 
and can be dug at any time for use. 

KOHLRABI. 

The Kohlrabi is of the cabbage tribe, with a thick, 
globular stem. It is sweet and delicate when not too 
old. It is a most excellent vegetable, and should be in 
all gardens. It should be planted in rich ground and 
given careful cultivation. It should be sown in the gar- 
den in rows two feet wide; and when they have made 
four or six leaves, thin out to one plant every eight 
inches. When the bulbs are two or three inches across, 
they should be used, as they will be too tough later on. 
They are prepared for the table the same as turnips. 



114 Flowers, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

KALE. 

There are several varieties of the kale family which 
require the same cultivation as the cabbage; but the va- 
riety that is most useful in this section is the dwarf 
curled green, as it can be sown in August on land where 
a crop has matured, and is so hardy that it lives through 
the winter and is often ready for use almost as soon as 
the snow has melted. It is a delicious green, very much 
like the Savoy cabbage in taste. 

The land should be broken up to get rid of the weeds 
and left a few days to let the weed seed sprout. When 
there is a goodly crop of weeds on the ground, sow the 
kale seed about two ounces to the square of fifty feet 
each way. Then break up the ground with a fork or 
cultivator. That operation will kill the weeds and at the 
same time cover the seed. In the spring when it is mak- 
ing rapid growth, this square will make more than 
enough for a large family. 

CANTALOUPE. 

Cantaloupe seed should be planted after all danger of 
frost has passed — for this section, April 15. They should 
be grown in a light, rich, sandy soil, broken up eight or 
ten inches deep and laid oflf four feet each way. Put a 
shovel of well-rotted manure in each hill, working it in 
well with the top soil, never in the bottom. Plant six 
or eight seeds where the furrows cross. It is much bet- 
ter to raise the earth to a slight mound level on the top 
and about eighteen inches across. When planted this 
way, water will not stand on the seed and rot them. 
When the vines are nearly ready to run, pull out all but 
three or four of the strongest. 

Keep a watch for insects from the day the seed sprout. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 115 

About this time it is a good idea to use the Bordeaux 
spray on the seedlings, letting it soak into the ground a 
little to prevent the vines from developing root blight — 
a very troublesome malady. 

Keep a watch for flea bugs and striped melon bugs, as 
they do their v^ork very rapidly and mostly at night. 
Cultivate every ten days until the vines nearly cover the 
ground. Do this with a hoe, moving the vines to one 
side as you work, and do not turn the vines over or pile 
them up on the hill, as it happens sometimes that they 
get sunburned when left in that position a few minutes 
and the growth is checked. After this length of growth, 
weeds will do little harm. Pinch off the ends of the 
vines when two or three feet long to induce early fruit- 
ing. 

WATERMELON. 

Although the watermelon is of different character, it 
requires identically the same treatment as the canta- 
loupe, with the exception that the land should be laid 
off in furrows ten feet wide one way, and crossways of 
this run off furrows five feet wide. Where the lines 
cross, work in a shovelful of old stable manure with 
about four inches of the soil and make into hills about 
two feet across and two or three inches above the level. 
Plant at three points in each hill about five seed; and 
when nearly ready to fall over and run, pull all out but 
one plant at each point. Cultivate thoroughly and keep 
off insects. Hoe the patch once every ten days. 

When the vines are five or six feet long, pinch off the 
ends, and they will bear much earlier. 



116 Flo WEES, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

MUSTARD. 

This plant is closely allied to the turnip, but makes no 
bulb. The seed is sown thickly in beds or rows about 
the middle of February ; and when four to six inches tall, 
it is cut off with a sharp knife or thinned out, cooking 
roots and all. If desired for fall use, sow in September 
in the garden. It is nearly hardy. 

Mustard does very well in any garden soil. Mix in a 
few radish seed when planting and make two crops at 
the same time. 

PARSLEY. 

This is a flavoring herb of the highest culinary value. 
This plant does not require the best soil. It does very 
well in any ordinary ground. It seems to do best in a 
very damp situation. 

Soak the seed about five hours and sow in rows eight- 
een inches wide about the last of March. When the 
plants are two or three inches high, thin out to five 
inches in the rows. If so desired, the plants that have 
been pulled out may be transplanted to other rows; or 
if a few are wanted for early winter use, they can be 
planted in the garden six or eight inches each way and 
covered with straw, grassy litter, or leaves on the ap- 
proach of freezing weather, and they will be suitable for 
garnishing and flavoring until Christmas. They will 
also come out nicely in the spring and will be more beau- 
tiful than in the autumn. 

For garnishing, the green curled or moss variety is 
the nicest. If wanted for flavoring, the smooth-leaved 
sort is best. 

PARSLEY, EDIBLE ROOTS. 

This variety of parsley is grown for the roots, which 
can be made into a fine salad either raw or cooked. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 117 

PARSNIP. 

By many the parsnip is considered one of the very 
finest vegetables that we have, and should be grown 
more generally than it is. 

Parsnips are generally used for stews and soups, but, 
properly cooked as a special dish, are really a treat to 
many. The best parsnips are grown in very rich, deep 
sandy loam. In such land they can be made to grow 
very large and sweet. 

The seed should be planted about March 15 in rows 
eighteen inches wide and about six or eight seeds 
dropped every five inches ; and when the seedlings have 
set three permanent leaves, pull out all but one plant. 

Parsnips can be left out in the rows all winter if cov- 
ered three or four inches deep with litter, leaves, straw, 
or earth. 

Work over the growing crop once a week to encour- 
age growth and keep rid of the weeds. 

PEAS, ENGLISH. 

Garden peas are smooth or wrinkled. The smooth 
are the earliest and most hardy. The wrinkled are much 
sweeter and larger. Sow seed of earlier sorts in Febru- 
ary; and if heavy snow should destroy the first crop, 
plant again as soon as possible. The dwarf, or earliest, 
sorts require no support, but the late sorts will need 
some brush set thickly along the rows for their support. 
All of the pea family is considered a poor-land crop ; but 
if a few loads of manure to the acre are added to the land, 
the gardener will be repaid with a longer season of bear- 
ing. 

The late, or wrinkled, peas should be sown about 
March 10 ; and for succession, every twenty days until the 



118 Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

end of June. That will give you a crop up to Septem- 
ber. If a very late crop is desired, sow the early sort 
about August 10. 

About two workings will usually do for the very ear- 
liest peas, but the later sorts should be cultivated every 
ten days if you would keep ahead of the weeds. 

FIELD OR COWPEAS. 

Varieties such as black eye, clay, and whippoorwill are 
grown as forage crops and soil renovators. It has only 
been a few years since the United States Experiment 
Station officers have been urging the more general use 
of cowpeas on the farms, as they will grow on land too 
poor to grow anything else, where the red clover will 
not grow at all. But after cultivating in cowpeas for a 
year or two, the soil will be improved so much that 
clover can be grown thereon. 

Cowpeas will not stand frost, and must not be planted 
until danger of frost has passed. All three of the above 
varieties are inclined to run and can be cut and dried for 
stock feed. They should be cut for hay when the seed 
pods are getting dry. 

There is a week or two when there will be a fine lot of 
green shelled peas for table use, and there are few things 
better than green shelled clay peas. They are dark-col- 
ored, but are the sweetest of all of this class. 

Some farmers do not break up poor land before sow- 
ing cowpeas. They sow the peas on the surface broad- 
cast and then break up the ground. That covers them, 
and the harrow or rake levels the ground and covers 
those that were missed in breaking up. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 119 

PEPPERS. 

We do not propose to go into detail as to the number 
of varieties. They all require identically the same treat- 
ment. 

Peppers are used in pickling and in many other ways. 
The large sorts — such as Chinese Giant, Ruby King, and 
others of that type — are the kinds used to make mango 
pickle. They are mild, sweet, and very crisp and tender. 
The long red cayenne is the sort generally seen about 
the kitchen and used in the cabbage pot. The small 
reds, or Tabasco, is the variety used to make pepper 
sauce. 

It is customary with the market gardener to sow the 
seed in hotbeds. There is no advantage to be gained 
from doing so unless an extra early crop is wanted. The 
growing season is so long that pepper seeds can be 
planted in the permanent rows on April 15 and thinned 
out, and will make ripe pepper before late summer. 
That is soon enough for pickling. 

Red pepper does best in deep, rich, sandy soil, but will 
do very well on heavy clay if some stable manure has 
been worked in. 

The large-fruited peppers should be planted in rows 
two feet wide and set in the rows every eighteen inches. 
The smaller can be planted in rows twenty inches wide 
and ten inches in the row. Cultivate once a week; and 
if the soil is very poor, make a shallow furrow three 
inches from the rows and pour half a pint of liquid fer- 
tilizer to each plant, and throw the soil back in the fur- 
row to prevent evaporation. Repeat the fertilizing every 
twenty or thirty days. The peppers should be gathered 
as they ripen so as to keep the plants bearing. 



120 Flo WEES, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

POTATOES, IRISH OR WHITE. 

In order to have success with early Irish potatoes, 
they should be planted as early as the ground can be 
broken up. We plant about the first of March. Some 
gardeners plant their early potatoes in November. It 
is claimed that the seed planted in November will make 
a crop earlier than those planted in March. Our little 
experience proved that the fall-planted seed produced 
earlier, but smaller, potatoes ; and we prefer March 
planting. Those planted in November will come up 
sooner and get the tops frozen, and that always pro- 
duces a large number of small potatoes. Fall-planted 
potato seed often get frozen in the ground, and the 
planting is lost. 

Plant in rows thirty inches wide, and drop a piece 
every ten inches, having cut to one eye or two eyes. As 
soon as weeds appear, work the ground with a rake or 
harrow. Follow the rows the first time, then cross the 
rows. You may pull up a potato occasionally, but that 
will make little diflference, considering the amount of 
weeds killed. When worked the next time, the shoots 
will be showing, so that you can throw a little earth 
where they are coming up. That will prevent them 
from coming up before all frost is gone and will make 
them more thrifty. At each working throw a little more 
soil to the vines. That prevents the tubers from getting 
green and bitter from being too near the surface. 

POTATOES, LATE IRISH. 

Late potatoes require the same treatment as the early, 
but they should be planted from June to July 15. The 
late varieties are of slower growth, and the vines are 
more slender and would lead the novice to think that 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 121 

they were not doing well; but he will be astonished to 
see the big potatoes that he will often dig. 

In planting late potatoes, do not place the seed more 
than two inches deep, as they seem to scald. We have 
divided the seed, planting four inches deep and plant- 
ing on the surface. Those on the surface grew; those 
planted deep rotted. Do not plant until a rain has wet 
the ground. 

. All of the potato family make their best crops in rich 
sandy loam or clay soil that has been highly fertilized 
for many years with stable manure. The late potatoes 
should be planted in rows three feet wide and from 
twelve to fifteen inches apart in the row. For blight, 
use Bordeaux mixture. 

When potatoes are dug, they should not be left on 
the ground more than a few minutes, as the sun injures 
them, giving them a greenish color and a bitter taste. 
Place them in a dark cellar or in hills in the field where 
water does not stand, and cover with about two inches of 
earth to keep off the sun. If they are to remain in the 
hills through the winter, a little more earth should be 
added as the weather gets cold, so that by December 
20 they will be covered one foot deep over sides and top 
of the hill, and should not be opened when there is a 
freeze. Do not put more than three or four barrels of 
potatoes in a hill. 

Late potatoes, planted on July 15, may be frostbitten 
on the leaves ; but leave them alone until the stems are 
all dead, as the tubers will grow considerably as long as 
the stems remain green. 

Large seed potatoes should be cut to one eye ; medium, 
to two ; and small, made into halves. 



122 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

SWEET POTATO. 

This is really not a potato at all, but one of the morn- 
ing-glory family. Its native habitat is the warm, sandy 
lands of the South near the Gulf of Mexico and in the 
West India Islands. 

Being of a subtropical nature, the plants cannot be set 
out until the ground gets warm — about the last of April. 
It is economy to get the sweet potato slips from some 
one who grows them in quantity, as they are usually 
cheap enough. 

The common method is to plant the slips in ridges 
about eight inches high and thirty inches apart, but we 
do not think that should always be the rule. Where the 
soil is a rich sandy loam and well drained, the slips can 
be set on a level, like cabbage plants ; and as they need 
working, throw the soil to the vines, and by the time the 
vines begin to cover the ground there will be ridge 
enough for the potatoes to develop in. 

Where the land is rather heavy or wet, the slips should 
be planted in ridges. First break up the land ten inches 
deep and harrow or rake it until the clods are all broken 
and the ground is mellow. Plant the slips not closer 
than fifteen inches, allow no weeds, and work over the 
land once a week with a hoe. 

Harvest the crop before a frost strikes the vines, or 
the tubers will not keep. If frost should fall on the 
vines, pull them away from the tubers before it thaws, 
as otherwise the sour sap goes to the roots, causing them 
to rot. 

Sweet potatoes should be stored in a dry cellar and 
kept as cool as possible, not to be touched by frost. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 123 

RADISH, EARLY. 

The seed are sown in March, either broadcast or in 
rows ten inches wide and thinned out to one inch apart 
for the small sorts and more space for the largest kinds. 
They will stand some frost without injury. For a suc- 
cession, seed should be sown every two weeks or oftener 
up to the first of June. After that time they are not 
much in demand for the rest of the summer. 

Radishes do best in a light, rich soil. They are likely 
to be tough when grown in heavy soil. They should be 
grown rapidly to make them crisp, and should be eaten 
when rather small, as they are in better condition for 
the table then than at any other time. Weeds will hin- 
der their growth, and should not be allowed. Work the 
crop often to encourage rapid growth. 

LATE RADISH. 

Seed of the late, or winter, varieties should be planted 
from August 1 to September 15. They are very large, 
and should be thinned out to three inches in the row, 
and the rows should be eighteen inches wide. 

The seed pods of the radish, when green, are some- 
times used for pickling. 

RAPE. 

Rape is not often recommended as a table vegetable ; 
nevertheless, it makes about as fine a dish of boiled 
greens and bacon as any one could wish for. Rape is of 
the cabbage family, requiring the same cultivation as the 
turnip. 



124 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

SALSIFY. 

This is also known as " oyster plant." Seed should 
be sown in early March in rows twelve inches wide. 
Sow the seed about one inch deep, so as to insure a 
stand, and thin out to three inches apart. 

Do not make the mistake of placing manure in the 
bottom of the furrow, as no moisture can rise through 
the manure and the plants will die in dry weather. 

Salsify should be grown in a light, rich soil ; and when 
the plants are two inches high, spread well-rotted stable 
manure about one inch deep on the rows, and it will be 
worked in with cultivation ; and when it rains, the ferti- 
lizer will be carried into the soil and taken up by the 
roots. This crop does not have to be harvested to keep 
it from freezing. It is perfectly hardy, and can be dug 
when wanted, and will be fine and plump next spring. 

SPINACH. 

This vegetables does not thrive in hot weather. It 
requires a cool, moist season to make it grow rapidly. 
It is then at its very best, being tender and crisp. Spin- 
ach is often sown broadcast, but really should be drilled 
in rows one foot apart, as in rows the weeds can be bet- 
ter controlled. As it grows, thin it out for use, and cut 
it as soon as it is large enough to handle. 

Any ordinary soil will grow this plant ; but if the land 
is rich, it will be larger and deeper colored and will grow 
faster. For a succession, sow every two weeks, the last 
not later than the first of May; for fall use, sow about 
the first of August; and for winter use, sow in Septem- 
ber. Winter-grown spinach can be cut at all times when 
not covered with snow. Work often enough to keep 
down weeds ; and when the weather gets real cold, cover 



Floweks, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 125 

the rows with straw leaves or any clean litter, and it will 
keep in better condition. 

SQUASH, SUMMER. 

For the finest squash, the ground should be very rich. 
A deep sandy loam is best. In the previous fall the land 
should have a liberal amount of well-rotted stable ma- 
nure about two inches deep and thoroughly worked in 
about February. To have very early squash, the safest 
time to plant is about April 10. Lay off the hills three 
feet each way for the bush varieties. Raise a flat hill 
about three inches and about eighteen inches across, and 
at three points, ten inches from each other, plant three 
or four seeds ; and when the plants have made about five 
leaves, pull out all but three in the hill and cultivate 
thoroughly. 

At times the squash-vine borer gets troublesome. You 
can tell when he is at work by the borings appearing on 
the stems. When this is noticed, place a shovel of earth 
on the vine farther up so as to induce new roots and con- 
tinue the crop for a longer period. The squash-vine 
borer is hard to control, as he flies at night. 

SQUASH, WINTER. 

The winter squash also requires a rich soil. They do 
not mature so rapidly as the summer varieties. The 
shell is hard, enabling them to withstand considerable 
handling without injury. 

For winter keeping, they should be placed in a dry, 
frost-proof cellar or a cool room where they will not 
freeze. 

As the winter varieties make considerable vine, they 
should be planted in May or June in hills two feet across, 
not nearer than six feet each way. Plant a foot apart, 



126 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

at three points in each hill, about three or four seeds ; 
and when well started, pull out all but one plant at each 
point. Cultivate every eight or ten days, and pull all 
weeds out of the hills. 

TOMATO. 

Not quite one hundred years ago the tomato was con- 
sidered a great curiosity. It was not thought to be fit to 
eat, as it might be poisonous. It was known as the 
" love apple," At the present time it is quite a factor 
in the wealth of the farm. The tomato is from the trop- 
ics and will not stand frost. If early plants are wanted, 
they can be started in a window box where there is no 
frost, or they can be obtained from a nursery. 

When setting in the garden, make the roots muddy 
and press the earth close about them, and they will not 
wither. 

The tomato will do very well on moderately rich land, 
not making much vine, but fruiting well. In rich land 
they make too much vine, sometimes to the detriment 
of fruit bearing. 

To grow fancy tomatoes, all of the suckers on the op- 
posite side of the stem from a bunch of fruit should be 
pulled off and all of the fruit on a bunch pulled off but 
one. The ordinary gardener does not go to that trouble. 
He pulls off the suckers only, and often leaves some 
suckers to make more vine later on. 

Tomatoes set in poor land can be placed as close as 
three feet each way. In rich land they should be placed 
five feet each way; and if not tied to stakes, they will 
cover the ground so that it will be almost impossible to 
walk over the land and not injure the vines. Where the 
operator has the time, the vines should be tied to stakes 
four or five feet high. The fruit does better, the vines 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 127 

look neater, weeds can be kept down, and the ground 
can be worked all summer, so that when a dry spell 
comes the regular hoeing will bring up moisture in the 
dryest weather. 

Do not plant in open ground before April 15, as the 
plants may get killed by a late frost, so that you will 
have to replant, and for that reason you should have as 
many more plants as you think you will need. 

. Nearly all of the large kinds are sweet, with few seeds 
and thick flesh, but are all later in ripening. The early 
sorts are likely to be rather sour, with plenty of seeds 
and juice ; but this plant is being improved year by year, 
and by all hybridizers the object in view is to get thicker 
flesh and sweeter fruit, with earliness in ripening. The 
small varieties are fine for preserving. 

RHUBARB. 

If it is desirable to have a crop in the quickest possi- 
ble time, the best plan is to obtain roots from the nursery 
and plant them in rich sandy loam if possible. If ordi- 
nary soil is to be used, lay off the land four feet each 
way; and where the furrows cross, fork in about a peck 
of well-rotted manure about a foot deep and about fif- 
teen inches across, setting a root in each hill or check. 
The most successful planting is done in February. The 
roots are inclined to grow at that time, and soon heal over 
where broken, and will grow rapidly. To have an extra 
early crop, place barrels or boxes over the hills and cover 
the boxes with straw or leaves to keep out the frost. In 
a short time there will be a nice lot of bleached stems, 
with very little leaf on them. 

If it is desirable to grow young plants, start the seed 
in a window box the first of March, sowing the seed in 



128 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

rows four or five inches apart. The soil in the box 
should be rich sandy loam. Keep a pane of glass on the 
box at night and on cold days so that the soil will not 
freeze. In six weeks the plants will be large enough to 
transplant to the open ground in rows twelve inches 
wide and the plants set in the rows twelve inches apart. 
'Allow no weeds to get a start. Work the ground fre- 
quently, but do not use any of the stalks at this time, 
as the plants will require all the leaves to build them up 
for future use. These young plants should be set in 
the permanent hills in the next February, preparing the 
hills as per directions previously mentioned in this chap- 
ter. No leaves should be pulled off until the next sea- 
son, or in the spring of the third year. 

PUMPKINS. 

They are usually planted in every third row in the 
corn and about eight or ten feet apart, two seeds at a 
place. When grown alone, lay off rows eight feet each 
way and place three or four seeds at each crossing; and 
when well started, pull out all but two. 

Pumpkins will thrive in any soil. If it is very poor, 
throw a shovel of old rotten manure on the hill after the 
seed are planted. Keep the weeds down and work once 
a week. There is an impression abroad that a pumpkin 
is not fit to eat until frost falls on it. 

If you wish to keep pumpkins through the winter, be 
sure that frost does not fall on them. 

In gardening do not be superstitious and wish to plant 
in the light or the dark of the moon. Plant the crop in 
the ground and give it good cultivation. The United 
States agricultural officials have thoroughly tested the 
subject, and have found that there is nothing in it. 



Flowers, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 129 

HERBS USED FOR FLAVORING. 

Dill is much used for flavoring pickles. 

Sage is used in the preparation of meats and in dress- 
ing for poultry. 

Thyme is used for flavoring soups and other dishes. 

Sweet marjoram is used for flavoring soups, cream 
cheese, etc. 

There are a number of other sweet pot herbs, but these 
mentioned are easily grown everywhere and usually fill 
the wants of the housewife. 

There is a story that is still popular with some people 
about the boy carrying two pumpkins in one end of the 
bag and a large stone in the other. When questioned as 
to why he did not throw the stone away and put a pump- 
kin in each end of the bag, his answer was that " dad " 
never did that way. 

Many people are much on the same order about the 
cultivation of plants, still using an old-fashioned hoe to 
work the garden, when the same work can be done in 
one-tenth of the time when the plants are small, and al- 
most as rapidly when the growth has very much in- 
creased. The improved wheel hoes and cultivators are 
too cheap to consider the cost as compared with the la- 
bor saved and the excellent work they do. If a garden 
line is used to make the rows straight and a hand seed 
drill has been used in planting, some beautiful work can 
be done, and the wheel hoe can be worked right up to 
the plants, leaving very few weeds to pick out of the 
rows. 
5 



1'30 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

EVERGREENS, SHADE 
TREES, ETC 



EVERGREENS. 

The following are a few of the most suitable ever- 
greens for ornamental effects for the South : 

RETINOSPORA. 

This is also known as "Japan cypress." It is really 
what we commonly call '*' white cedar " or " cypress ; " 
but the family is quite numerous, there being as many 
as fifteen or twenty varieties, being in size all the way 
from a few inches tall to as much as thirty-five or forty 
feet high. 

The larger sorts are usually bright green, but the low- 
growing sorts are often tipped with beautiful golden 
tints, while others are variegated white and green in 
beautiful contrast. The larger-growing trees can be 
grown as single specimens, giving a grand effect to the 
lawn, be it large or small. The dwarf sorts may be ar- 
ranged in groups with the most beautiful results, espe- 
cially when placed in front of dark-colored foliage. 

The Japan cypress does well either in low or elevated 
situations, even in rocky places. It should be planted in 
October or in February or March. 

SPRUCES. 

It is safe to say that the spruces are more generally 
planted than any other evergreen, as much for economy 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 131 

as for ornamentation. In some sections they are used 
as windbreaks by planting them thickly in a double row 
about eight or ten feet apart and the same distance be- 
tween the rows. 

There are about a dozen varieties of spruces on the 
market, and they are all meritorious. These trees re- 
quire little attention after planting. With few excep- 
tions, they are very graceful in their growth. The fo- 
liage varies in color in the different varieties from light 
to very dark green, silvery gray, golden in the spring, 
changing to green, and light blue. 

The spruces are all hardy, grow rapidly, and are relia- 
ble to plant almost anywhere. They make beautiful 
trees when grown individually, and in groups are just 
as effective. 

Plant in February or March. 

PINES. 

The pine family thrive in a wide range of climatic con- 
ditions. They are to be found native of both mountain 
and valley, from the Arctic Circle to the Equator. They 
are mostly of pyramid form, and grow rapidly in any 
soil. 

Pines are very ornamental on lawns and in parks. 
They are so varied in character that, by choosing from 
the many species, trees can be selected to suit a small 
area or a large space. When arranged in groups or in 
double rows for windbreaks, their value cannot be too 
highly appreciated. 

To meet with the greatest success in planting the 
pines, they should be gotten from a nurseryman who 
root-prunes his pines so that the trees may have numer- 
ous small new roots and be taken up and transported 
with a small ball of earth. 



132 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

Pines may be planted in mild weather any time from 
October until March, but are more likely to live if 
planted in March or April. Most of the pine family are 
inclined to be clothed to the ground, and are most at- 
tractive and natural when allowed to remain in that con- 
dition. 

JUNIPERS. 

This is wonderful for the many forms it embraces, 
from the smallest dwarfs to trees of considerable height, 
while different tintings of silver, yellow, and green char- 
acterize the foliage, which has much the appearance of 
the common red cedar. 

Junipers are remarkably vigorous, and thrive in bleak, 
barren places ; in poor, stony soil ; in low, damp ground ; 
or almost anywhere. The columnar forms are used for 
making hedges and as individual specimens ; the trailing 
varieties, for rocky places and sandy slopes. It is also 
used in groups and borders. 

Junipers may be planted in February, March, or April. 
The dwarf columnar varieties, when made into hedge 
rows, can be set as close as ten inches ; the larger sorts, 
in proportion or as desired. Like most evergreens, they 
can be planted as late as April; but in the South they 
can be set any time through the winter. 

RED CEDAR. 

This is one of the most useful of all of the evergreens, 
the wood being very valuable and much used in the arts ; 
and the tree itself, of a deep-green color, gives a most 
beautiful aspect to the premises, whether as an individ- 
ual plant, hedge, or when trimmed into various forms. 
The natural form of the red cedar is pyramidal and 
clothed with verdure to the ground, and the freedom 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 133 

with which it grows on poor soil and on rocky places 
gives it a valuable quality. 

Plant in February or March, tramping the soil firmly 
on the roots so as to leave no open places in the soil. 

ARBOR VIT^. 

These highly ornamental trees, though many grow 
upright, do not reach to a great height. They are useful 
for small places as well as larger areas. They are hardy, 
growing vigorously in all kinds of soil. They are easily 
transplanted. Their compact, neat appearance and the 
frondlike foliage, in many cases brightly colored, make 
them useful in grouping and bordering, for cemetery and 
lawn specimens, for hedges and screens, and evQn for 
window boxes and vases. 

Arbor vitse can be planted almost any time from No- 
vember to the first of May, but are more likely to grow 
at once if set out about March. 

The characteristic form of the arbor vitse is conical, 
and they should not be trimmed on any account unless 
to rectify an accident. 

HOLLY. 

There are several varieties of the holly, but our na- 
tive holly can hardly be outclassed in beauty, both in 
leaf and in brilliant scarlet berries that thickly adorn the 
limbs in the autumn and winter. Sprays of holly ber- 
ries are highly prized for the holiday decorations. 

The English holly has darker leaves than the Ameri- 
can variety and does not grow so tall. 

The Japanese holly has dark-green leaves and a neat 
habit of growth, being a good plant to make into hedges, 
and is hardy as far north as the latitude of Chicago. 



134 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

All hollies do not bear berries, so that it is advisable 
to plant several trees so as to insure getting some that 
do. 

BOX. 

The box tree — the familiar, old-fashioned box — has 
small, dark, evergreen, glossy leaves. The dwarf box is 
used for borders along walks, etc. This variety does not 
grow over six or eight inches high, and should be set 
about four or five inches apart so as to make a compact 
line. They thrive best in shady situations. 

The variety known as '' myrtle box " will grow in the 
sunlight or shade, either, and is much used for group- 
ing, as well as borders, and for planting against the foun- 
dations of the home and along the terrace. They should 
be set about twelve or fourteen inches apart. 

The tree box will grow as tall as twenty feet or more, 
and they are much used for decorative effect on the lawn 
or in the park, where they show to great effect in com- 
bination with other shrubbery. 

The box is tenacious of life, outliving several gener- 
ations of people. It will grow in almost any soil, and 
can be trimmed into any form or fantastic shape desired 
without injury. 

MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA. 

This is the magnolia of the South, but is planted and 
does nicely in man)^ of the Northern States. This va- 
riety has large, glossy, oval leaves about eight inches 
long and blooms when only a few feet high, but in time 
will make a large tree. The bloom of this variety will 
measure six or seven inches across, of the purest waxen 
white, and is deliciously fragrant. This evergreen sheds 
its leaves in the spring as the new growth puts forth. 



Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 135 

YUCCA, ADAM'S NEEDLE. 

This is sometimes called " bear grass," and somewhat 
resembles a coarse grass. It is often used with good ef- 
fect to break the monotony in a stretch of sod. It can 
be made to do good service as an edging along a drive- 
way or as a plant in front of a line of low-growing trees 
or shrubbery. It is evergreen, and in the early sum- 
mer throws up tall, strong stalks about seven feet tall 
and laden with an immense cluster of ivory-white, bell- 
shaped, sweet-scented flowers. 

The yucca can be planted any time from September 
until April. When planting, space them about eighteen 
inches apart. 

With a little care in planting, tramping the soil around 
the plants so as to leave no open spaces among the roots 
where the air can circulate, evergreens can be planted 
with safet}^ about October, but should be tied between 
two stakes to prevent the wind from shaking them loose 
and letting the frost into the roots; but the safest time 
is in March or April. In the extreme South they may 
be planted any time from October to March. We would 
advise staking them against strong winds. 



SHADE TREES. 

The following are a few of what we believe to be the 
best native shade trees for making groves and to plant 
about the home : 

MAPLE. 

The maples, both soft (or water maple) and hard (or 
sugar maple), are more generally planted for shade than 
any other tree. 



136 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

The soft maple is used on account of its rapid growth 
and dense shade. Although the growth is irregular, the 
tree has a graceful aspect. 

The hard maple is of slower growth, being of pyra- 
mid form. It is more graceful, makes a more dense 
shade, and is not so easily broken by the wind. When 
the first frost of autumn touches the leaves, they turn 
to the most beautiful shades of yellow, gold, and crimson. 

The soft maple makes a medium-sized tree, and is 
short-lived, lasting about fifty years. The sugar maple 
develops into a good-sized forest tree, and will last for 
several hundred years. 

Both sorts will grow in any soil and are easily trans- 
planted, which can be done in late autumn; but we pre- 
fer planting in February, March, and April. If the trees 
are set where the wind will blow hard, always brace 
them with strong cord or wire, which should be lightly 
padded where the wire comes in contact with the bark; 
and always mark the north side of the tree before taking 
it up, and turn that side to the north, so that the sun will 
not burn and kill the tree. Observe this rule always in 
removing and planting trees of every description, and 
you will never have trees with dead bark on the south- 
west side. 

CATALPA. 

Catalpas are popular in commercial and ornamental 
planting. These tropical-looking trees produce showy 
flowers about July. Their leaves are large, glossy, and 
heart-shaped. The long beans on the Speciosa variety 
are odd and attractive. (This variety is the kind used 
commercially on account of the almost indestructibility 
of the wood.) 

Catalpas thrive in any situation or soil, giving quick 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 137 

results, growing very rapidly. As an ornamental flow- 
ering tree for midsummer, they equal any. They may 
be planted any time in the late fall or early spring. 

RED ELM. 

In landscape planting the elm is very generally used. 
It has a massive top of large proportions. The branches 
are of a drooping nature, spreading into graceful, sweep- 
ing arches, clothed with dense fringes of foliage. The 
elm is extensively used for large lawns, public parks, etc. 

Elms grow best in fertile soils. They may be planted 
in October, November, February, or March with good 
results. 

LINDEN. 

Lindens are rapid-growing, large trees, suitable for 
lawns, p^rks, and as individual trees about the home. 
They are of rounded, symmetrical form, and make a fine 
shade tree. In the spring they have light-yellow, very 
fragrant flowers. The leaves are large and almost 
round. These trees v/ill grow in almost any ordinary 
soil. 

The lindens are also known as " basswood." They 
can be planted almost any time, but we would advise set- 
ting them in February or March. 

WILD CHERRY, BLACK. 

The wild cherry is not as generally planted as it should 
be. It is really one of our most beautiful and substan- 
tial trees. With age it will attain large proportions, 
equal to most forest trees. It appears to have few in- 
sect enemies, and is always clothed with its deep-green, 
glossy leaves. In early summer it produces myriads of 
long racemes of small white flowers that emit a pleas- 



138 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

ant perfume, and in the autumn the whole tree is liter- 
ally covered with glossy, black fruits, fine for making 
wine. 

Plant in late fall or in early spring. This variety of 
cherry grows best in rich land, but will give satisfaction 
in any soil. 

YELLOW POPLAR, TULIP TREE. 

This is a grand native tree of rapid growth, with a 
smooth, clean bark, which gets rough after thirty or 
forty years of growth. The branches spread out, cov- 
ering a wide area. The foliage is large, dark, glossy 
green. When the tree is mature, it produces freely in 
June, creamy, yellow, sweet-scented, tulip-shaped flow- 
ers. This is one of the most valuable of timber trees. 

Yellow poplars should be planted in the late fall or 
early spring. 

HACKBERRY, NETTLE TREE. 

For general planting the hackberry has not been 
brought to the front, where it really belongs. We believe 
it to be one of the most ornamental of our native trees. 
It is almost as graceful in growth as the red elm. It 
has wide-spreading branches, with light-green foliage 
that makes a dense shade. It takes kindly to almost 
any soil or situation. It is easy to transplant, can be set 
in nearly every month in the year, and appears to have 
very few insect enemies. 

The hackberry seems to be the chief feeding place for 
the birds throughout the winter, being literally covered 
with small brown berries with a very agreeable flavor. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 139 

SWEETGUM, LIQUIDAMBAR. 

This tree is of rapid growth ; of tall, rather narrow, 
pyramidal form. It grows equally well in lowlands or 
on elevated situations. The bark of the young trees is 
unusually rough, giving rather an odd appearance, espe- 
cially to the smaller branches. The beautiful, glossy, 
star-shaped leaves make a cooling shade on a w^arm sum- 
mer day. If there is any air stirring, some of the leaves 
are sure to be moving, suggestive of a refreshing breeze. 

Sweetgum trees are a little uncertain when being 
transplanted, so that the best plan is to dig a trench 
around the tree to be moved. Dig as near as two feet 
of the tree and as deep as eighteen inches, so as to cut 
of¥ most of the roots near the surface. This should be 
done about September or in the spring previous. Fill in 
the trench again and leave until February, March, or 
April. New roots will have been made by that time, and 
the tree can be transplanted. 



Having given you a list of a few of our best native 
shade trees, we will now give you a few of our best un- 
dergrow^ths suitable for groves and parks : 

DOGWOOD. 

There is nothing finer for planting in groves of forest 
trees than the dogwood. In early spring the trees are 
literally covered with white-petaled flowers about two 
inches in diameter. In the autumn the leaves turn to a 
beautiful deep-crimson color. 

Dogwood will grow in full sunlight, and will grow in 
any kind of soil that any other tree will thrive in. 



140 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

REDBUD. 

Early in spring, before the leaves put forth, the red- 
bud will be clothed in a thick mass of delicate pink flow- 
ers. Even the body of the tree will have sprays of flow- 
ers in seemingly unusual places. 

PRIVET. 

The privets are among our most ornamental and use- 
ful shrubs. They grow rapidly, either in the open or 
under the shade of trees. The privets are not particular 
as to soil. They will grow in rich or poor land, in low 
and wet places, on hilltops, in sandy or rocky places alike. 
Their good qualities can be seen when grown in groups, 
when trimmed into all sorts of forms, and more espe- 
cially when grown in hedges, in which form they are 
best known. 

Privets bear shearing well, can be kept at any desired 
height, and seem to have no insect or fungus enemies. 
Some varieties are almost evergreen, and all are most 
easy to transplant, which can be done any time when 
there is no freeze. 

WEEPING WILLOW. 

This variety is also called " Babylonian willow," one 
of the most graceful of trees. Although not a native, it 
has taken most kindly to the land of its adoption. It is 
claimed that this tree was first recorded as growing 
plentifully in the vicinity of ancient Babylon. All of the 
trees in America are said to have originated from a cut- 
ting from the tree over the grave of Napoleon Bona- 
parte. Nevertheless, it is a most graceful and beautiful 
tree ; and when planted near the bank of a stream or lake, 
it lends a most enchanting effect. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 141 

The weeping willow will thrive nicely in a grove of 
forest trees where the sun can shine through the foliage 
part of the day, and lends a pretty contrast to the view — 
more so if there is a very dark background of foliage or 
other good contrast. Being easy to transplant, it can 
be moved any time in the autumn or early spring. 

Almost any nurseryman can furnish all of the above- 
mentioned stock. 



142 Flowees, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 



GRASSES, 



BLUE GRASS, KENTUCKY. 

This is the finest pasture grass of them all. It is a 
native of Tennessee as well as of Kentucky, and does not 
have to be cultivated, unless a fine lawn is required, than 
which there is none finer. 

Blue grass is perennial ; and when you once get a good 
stand, it will stay with you for many years. It will 
grow on any land, but flourishes best in rich soil. An 
old, partly run-out sod land can be renewed by sowing 
seed and raking it in on the bare spots in February, 
March, or April. But if desirable to renew the plot en- 
tirely, break up the land in October or November. Leave 
it rough just as the plow leaves it. The freezes will re- 
duce the clods to some extent, so that all that is neces- 
sary is to sow the seed on the land in February, March, 
or April, and harrow it back and forth several times to 
be sure to get the seed well covered. Sow from seven 
to nine pecks to the acre. Blue grass makes runners un- 
derground, and in a few weeks will make a spread of 
eighteen or twenty inches, so that it is not necessary to 
sow so much seed per acre unless there is some haste to 
obtain a heavy and quick growth. 

Blue grass does well in partial shade, but will grow in 
full sunlight unless there should come a protracted late- 
summer drought; even then the roots do not die, but 
will make a fresh growth with the first shower that 
comes. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 143 

CANADIAN BLUE GRASS. 

This variety is very hardy, and will grow on the poor- 
est and driest land. It does not grow tall, only about 
eight or ten inches; is of a wiry nature, but very nutri- 
tious. The stems are flat, and the color is really of a 
blue cast. 

There is nothing finer to grow in exposed places and 
very steep terraces. The roots and stems combine to 
hold the soil in place. 

Sow in March eight to nine pecks to the acre, and rake 
or harrow it in. Being a perennial, it will last for many 
years. 

CREEPING BENT. 

This is one of the most valuable of the lawn grasses, 
and will stand more hard usage than any other grass. 
It seems to improve under bad treatment. From con- 
stantly walking on it the sod gets deep and firm. 

Break up the land and sow the seed in March or April, 
and harrow the land both ways to insure covering the 
seed. Sow about twelve pecks to the acre. 



144 Flowees, Fkuits, V^egetables, Etc. 



PESTS, DISEASES, ETC 



We will now devote a little time to insect pests and 
fungus diseases and their treatment. 

CUTWORMS. 

As the cutworm appears to be the first to commence 
work in the spring, we will give him first consideration. 
Cutworms attack a great variety of plants, and are al- 
ways more numerous upon land which has been in sod 
for a year or more. To destroy cutworms, moisten a 
quart of corn meal or wheat bran with water, to which 
add and mix thoroughly a half teaspoonful or less of 
Paris green or other poison and a little molasses. Place 
small quantities of this in various parts of the garden 
where the worms are at work, being careful to place the 
poisoned meal upon the ridges and not in the hollows. 
Of course it should be placed so that poultry or domes- 
tic animals cannot get to it. 

If nitrate of soda is scattered over the cabbage land 
until it has the appearance of a light frost, worms and 
bugs of every description will leave at once. When only 
a few plants are to be set out, wrap the stem with news- 
paper, and the cutworms will not injure them. Toma- 
toes will not stand the nitrate of soda on the stems; it 
should be sprinkled around them. 

SCALE INSECTS. 

These are small sucking insects. Owing to their small 
size, their presence is not generally known until the 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 145 

injury caused by their work becomes apparent. The 
limbs on trees die, and on examination are found to be 
covered with an incrustation showing many dark 
specks — a sure sign of scale of some sort. 

The United States Experiment Stations give several 
remedies that are a little troublesome to prepare ; so we 
give you ours, which is simple in the extreme and is just 
as effective, and has our fullest indorsement because of 
the cheapness of the ingredients and the ease with which 
they can be procured. Use as a spray in the proportion 
of three teaspoonfuls of granulated concentrated lye to 
one gallon of water. This is to be used in the winter or 
early spring before the buds begin to swell, as it is 
strong enough to burn new growth and will burn the 
hands if handled carelessly. Use a good force-pump 
spraying outfit; they can be had cheaply. Spray from 
both sides of the tree, and do it thoroughly from the 
very top to down on the ground. If this remedy is ap- 
plied from the forks of the trees to the ground as soon 
as the leaves have fallen, you will be rid of the borer 
also ; but all rough bark should be removed first. 

PLANT LICE, OR APHIS AND WOOLLY 
APHIS. 

These are the lice so common upon a great variety of 
plants. They may be green, red, or black. Green seems 
to be the most common. Some have wings, others have 
none; but they are all injurious alike. Where ants are 
running about on plants, there is likely to be plant lice. 
A strong decoction of tobacco is usually recommended. 
This is made by pouring boiling water over a tubful of 
tobacco stems, to be used when cold. But a simple and 
cheap remedy is made by dissolving in the proportion 



146 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

of one-third of a one-pound bar of yellow soap in one 
gallon of boiling water. Boil until all is dissolved. The 
quickest way to dissolve is to slice the soap very thin. 
Use this when very warm, as it gets thick when cold. 
The plants will look as if they had been varnished, but 
no injury will be done. 

The woolly aphis looks like a very small piece of cot- 
ton on the plants. It will also yield to the preparation 
of soap if used thoroughly. 

All of the aphis are injurious to plant life, both on the 
foliage and the roots, especially asters and chrysanthe- 
mums, among herbaceous plants, and among the fruits. 
They appear to do more injury to the roots of the apple 
than any other, on account of which all fruit trees and 
grapevines should have a shovelful of fresh wood ashes 
or air-slacked lime placed immediately around the base 
of the stem, which will prevent aphis and also borers. 

REMEMBER THIS. 

Spray thoroughly, or not at all. This can be accom- 
plished by the application of a small amount of spray 
liquid on every part of the plant — top, middle, and bot- 
tom. An excess of spray at any particular point is both 
wasteful of material and may cause injury to the foliage. 

Never spray fruit trees when in bloom. This is likely 
to wash off the pollen ; and when this occurs, there will 
be no fruit, and the bees of the neighborhood will be poi- 
soned. 

Label all poisons and put them where children and 
domestic animals cannot get to them. 

When using a spraying solution of doubtful strength, 
try it on a plant and wait an hour or two for effects be- 
fore using. 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 147 

In spraying with Bordeaux and poison on fruit trees 
and grapevines, do so every fifteen or tv^enty days until 
about two weeks before the fruit is expected to ripen. 
If the fruit is discolored by the use of the Bordeaux mix- 
ture when gathered, have a vessel containing good vine- 
gar or acetic acid that has been reduced with water to 
about the same strength as very strong vinegar, into 
which drop the fruit for a few minutes, and then place 
it in clear water, thus removing all discoloration and 
poison. The poison must not be added unless insects 
are present. 

Fungicides are substances used in destroying fungi, 
which are low vegetable organisms causing disease in 
plants. More correctly speaking-, the fungicide acts as 
a preventive of plant disease by obstructing the germi- 
nation of the spores of the fungi that causes such dis- 
ease. Since these spores grow upon the exterior por- 
tion of plants, if we cover the plants with a coating of 
copper sulphate or other chemical deleterious to the ger- 
mination of the spores, the reproduction of the fungi is 
held in check and disease is prevented. 

In combating fungous diseases, the Bordeaux mixture 
is the standard remedy, and consists of copper sulphate, 
lime, and water. The proportions and manner in which 
the various ingredients are combined so largely affect 
the resulting mixture that it would be a difficult matter 
to make identically the same mixture twice in succes- 
sion. The formula most generally in use is the follow- 
ing: Copper sulphate, two pounds; fresh lime, two 
pounds ; water, twenty-five gallons. The copper sul- 
phate should be dissolved in twelve gallons of the water 
(never use metal vessel) in a tub. To dissolve the cop- 
per sulphate readily, it should be placed in a coarse cloth 
and suspended in the water so that the copper sulphate 



148 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc 

is just covered. It will soon pass through the cloth and 
mingle with the water. The fresh lime should be 
slacked in another vessel in about two gallons of boiling 
water. When it is all slacked, add cold water to make 
it twelve gallons. The two solutions should then be 
poured into a barrel. Two people should pour the solu- 
tions into the barrel at the same time so as to have the 
proper chemical combination. 

If chewing insects are to be combated, arsenate of 
lead should be added to the fungicide to kill them. To 
twenty-five gallons of the above Bordeaux mixture add 
one pound of arsenate of lead, first thinning it down with 
a little water so that it will thoroughly incorporate with 
the mixture. 

It is advisable to strain the fungicide when adding 
the poison so as to avoid possible clogging of the spray 
nozzle. 

Bordeaux spray should be used about every two weeks 
on fruit trees and on vegetables whenever fungus dis- 
eases appear, thus keeping the disease in check. 

The above preparation, when the poison is added, 
should never be used on any plant that is used as greens 
or as salad or on cauliflower. The growth of the cab- 
bage being from the inside, the poison used on them is 
thrown off with the old outside leaves, which should not 
be fed to stock. The United States Experiment Sta- 
tion management claims that a person would have to 
eat at one sitting sixty heads of cabbage to be even 
made sick from the effects of poison used. It will be 
readily seen that it is impossible to be poisoned from 
using the vegetables. 

If only a gallon or two of fungicide is required for a 
few roses, etc., add to two gallons of water one table- 
spoonful of hyposulphide of soda. If insects, such as 



Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 149 

worms or slugs, are troublesome, add one teaspoonful of 
Paris green. Keep well stirred while using. 

The United States Experiment Station mentions a 
number of insects that have to be looked after to pre- 
vent them from destroying trees. The following is the 
list that is given : Tree borers, scale insect, woolly aphis, 
bud worms, leaf crumplers, canker worms, codling 
moths, caterpillars, currant worms, striped beetles, flea 
beetles, peach-tree borers, curculio. All of these can be 
destroyed by the concentrated lye remedy on the body 
and limbs of the trees when dormant and by the addi- 
tion to the Bordeaux mixture of arsenate of lead in the 
early spring sprayings. We would not advise using the 
arsenate of lead after the fruit has developed about one- 
third, as insects do not trouble fruit much after that. 
Use only the lime and bluestone (sulphate of copper) to 
keep disease in check, using it every two weeks. 

The following is a list of insects that infest vegeta- 
bles : Caterpillars, worms, potato beetle, slugs, horn- 
worm. All of these can be destroyed by using arsenate 
of lead in the Bordeaux mixture ; or when the Bordeaux 
mixture is not required, the poison (arsenate of lead) 
can be used alone in the proportion of one pound of 
poison to twenty-five gallons of water. 

MANURES, AND HOW TO APPLY THEM. 

Manuring for the general improving of the land should 
be done in the fall and winter and plowed or forked in 
whenever the weather will permit ; but when applied to 
the growing crops, it should be well rotted and not come 
in contact with the plants. It is best to run a furrow 
six or eight inches away from the rows. Place the ma- 
nure therein and throw the soil back, thus keeping it 
damp that the plants may take up what is required. 



150 Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

For liquid manuring of plants, the material should be 
tied up in a coarse sack holding about one bushel of 
fresh cow manure or the cleanings from the henhouse 
where no lime has been mixed with it, as lime liberates 
a most essential quality (ammonia), therefore making 
it almost worthless. Place the sack of fertilizer in a 
fifty-gallon barrel and fill it full of water. Occasionally 
use a shovel to squeeze the sack against the side of the 
barrel, and in a few days the liquid will be ready for use. 
To every ten gallons of water add one gallon from the 
barrel, and to each plant give one pint, poured near, but 
not on it. Urine can be used in the same way, but should 
be used in the proportion of one gallon to about fifteen 
gallons of water. This latter is especially fine for onions, 
peppers, radishes, etc., and is highly recommended for all 
kinds of flowers, whether in the open ground or in pots. 
In the latter case the proportion should be one to twenty. 

The commercial fertilizers are good for the purposes 
recommended ; but those we have mentioned supply 
every need of the gardener, unless it should be that the 
land is deficient in phosphates and nitrates. 

Common salt is an excellent fertilizer for several 
plants. Asparagus will flourish in soil so salty that 
hardly anything else will live in it, and is greatly im- 
proved by its use. Apply it in the fall or winter. Cab- 
bage is also benefited by salt being liberally sprinkled 
on the land. If a pernicious weed gets established in 
the garden, chop it oflf below the surface and place a 
handful of salt thereon, and it will soon disappear. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 151 

PLANTS AND FRUITS THAT HAVE A MARKED 
EFFECT ON THE HUMAN SYSTEM. 

Asparagus is an excellent kidney medicine, and comes 
in early spring — at a time when the system often needs 
a course of renovation to free it of surplus accumula- 
tions. Therefore it is advisable to use the vegetable 
freely twice or even three times a day. 

Horse-radish leaves bruised and applied to the fore- 
head will often relieve headache. 

Watermelon seeds boiled and used as a tea will often 
cause a free action of the kidneys. 

Beets are a laxative, inclined to regulate the bowels. 
They contain much sugar, and are, therefore, a fat-pro- 
ducing food. 

A raw beet scraped and applied to a boil will greatly 
relieve the pain and soon bring it to a head. 

Carrots are a good skin tonic. In the case of stock 
that are fed on them, the skin becomes soft and healthy, 
with a fine luster on the hair. 

Celery should be freely eaten at all times, as there is 
no better stomach nerve medicine in existence. The 
seeds of celery taken in teaspoonful doses three or four 
times a day will keep the nerves in a tranquil state and 
avoid headaches caused from indigestion. 

Popcorn, when properly popped and freely eaten after 
meals, will very much aid digestion, and has the advan- 
tage of being a very palatable remedy. 

Lettuce contains considerable opium ; and when freely 
indulged in, it will produce a soothing effect in the nerve 
centers, with an inclination to sleep. 

The onion is also a sleep producer when eaten raw, but 
with some persons the opposite effect is experienced 
when cooked. 



152 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

Okra is mucilaginous, and by straining out the fibrous 
part can be freely used by persons who are convalescent 
from stomach or bowel troubles. 

Cress is slightly tonic, as well as a laxative. 

Parsley is strengthening to the kidneys, and can be 
freely used with a marked benefit either in suppression 
or in a too copious flow of urine. It can be eaten raw 
or used as a tea. 

Rhubarb is a good laxative, acting freely on the bow- 
els, with no tendency to injury. 

Spinach is said to be a good liver, kidney, and bowel 
medicine, and can be had nearly the year round. 

We do not know that the tomato has any medicinal 
properties, but we do know that there is nothing better 
than the fresh juice of the tomato to remove fruit stains 
from the hands. 

The tomato is well supplied with sugar — more so in 
the juices surrounding the seeds than in the pulp, and 
on that account should be highly nutritious. 



A LITTLE INFORMATION. 

The following is a little information in regard to the 
proper choice of vegetables that will save a great deal 
of time and money when making purchases and vexation 
in the preparation of the same for the table : 

If people would only use their eyes, nose, and the sense 
of touch, it would save them many dollars in a year in 
buying so-called " fresh " vegetables and fruits. There 



Flowees, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc. 153 

is no economy in buying indifferent provisions if future 
doctor's bills are taken into consideration. Stale and 
slightly moldy food stuffs are without doubt unhealthy. 
With the recurrence of epidemics, such as cholera and 
yellow fever, the death rate proved to be more numer- 
ous among the cheaply and ill-fed populace than among 
the wealthy, who were able to have the very best the 
market afforded. 

In consideration of the fact that Congress has passed 
laws to protect us against the manufacture of impure 
foods and drugs and the city fathers are striving to give 
us pure water, w^hy should we not have a law unto our- 
selves in the purchase of commodities that do not come 
under the notice of the food inspector at all times? 

In purchasing Irish potatoes, few people consider the 
flavor or economy in connection with the transaction. 
Any one who is posted knows very well that all red pota- 
toes are strong-flavored and almost worthless to people 
of refined palate. The only reason for growing the early 
red sorts is that they mature a few days earlier, therefore 
bringing to the grower the very highest price. When 
a red potato has been exposed to the light for a few days, 
it takes on a green cast, and, as a consequence, is ex- 
tremely bitter. One such potato, although carefully 
pealed to remove the green, may have enough of the acid 
in it to give the whole serving a bad flavor. Others of 
the early sorts are creamy white, with a pink mottle run- 
ning through them, such as the Early Rose, which are 
finely flavored and of first quality. Another good sort 
has a creamy color on the order of the Crown Jewel, 
which is of excellent quality, cooking dry and mealy, 
like the Early Rose. Other varieties recommended are 
the Bovee, Early Puritan, and Beauty of Hebron — all 
well-known varieties. 



154 Flowers, Feuits, Vegetables, Etc 

In the interest of economy, never buy potatoes with 
deep eyes. You have to use the paring knife too freely 
when peeHng them. If choice can be had, choose a 
smooth tuber, with fiat or very shallow eyes. 

In purchasing late potatoes, choose white or creamy 
ones on the order of the Burbank, which is one of the 
very best sorts. It has a good flavor and cooks dry and 
mealy. Carman and Peerless are also choice sorts. 

In selecting green onions in early spring, question the 
dealer as to the variety. If he does not know, examine 
them for yourself. If the white or bleached part comes 
sharply up to the green top, it is likely to be a shallot, 
or scallion, and may be tough, as they are good only in 
the earliest part of the spring. If, on the other hand, 
they have dark-green stripes running from the green top 
down through the white part, they are likely to be sil- 
ver-skin onions, and are mild, tender, and sweet. 

If in search of a good, mild, mature or dry onion, be 
sure to select a light-brown or yellow color, and at the 
same time press firmly on the stem, and, bruising it a lit- 
tle, place it to the nose ; and if it has a peculiar, moldy, 
offensive odor, do not buy, as it is diseased in the inte- 
rior, one or more layers being rotten — a common trou- 
ble and hard to detect by sight or feeling, unless in very 
bad condition. 

If you would have the best parsnip for family use, get 
the hollow-crown sugar parsnip. There is no doubt 
about the quality. They are long, smooth, and very 
rich in flavor. Those with rough skin and uneven in 
form are likely to have a brown, woody heart, and are 
worthless. Parsnip stew, like a few other dishes, is 
wonderfully improved by recooking. At the same time 
add a little butter and a pinch of sugar. 

In selecting turnips, choose those with smooth skin. 



Flowees, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 155 

showing a polished appearance. If the thumb nail cuts 
into it easily and it is firm, it is in good condition. On 
the other hand, if it is rough, it is likely that it is strong. 
Some of the best are purple-top, strap-leaf White Globe 
and red-top White Globe. Some of the Swedes or 
Ruta-bagas are much sweeter than the common turnip, 
but are mostly yellow in color when cooked. 

To add to the flavor of turnips, grate a small carrot 
into the pot when placed on the fire, and to six large tur- 
nips add one teaspoonful of sugar. 

. In purchasing tomatoes for slicing, it is well to buy 
by name when possible. When buying from appear- 
ances, choose a large, very deep red, with thick flesh and 
few seeds. Such a sort is likely to be sweet or perhaps 
subacid. But the sweetest and most solid are purple or 
purplish red, with considerable green around the stem. 
Even the green is nicely flavored and very palatable. 
The latter sorts have few seeds, and sometimes are al- 
most solid. A deep-red tomato called the " Crimson 
Cushion " and another by the name of " Stone " are both 
good. 

Examine the tomatoes when buying. If there are 
dull, red, flat-looking spots on them, they are afifected 
with tomato blight and are bitter. 

When buying radishes in early spring, we would ad- 
vise you to get the French Breakfast, W^hite-Tipped 
Scarlet, or Early vScarlet. If people did not buy to please 
the eye, they would find that some of the white varieties 
of radish would be just as good or better than some of 
the red sorts. 

For fall and winter use, the Chinese Rose, the Chinese 
White, and the Black Spanish are all good. With the 
exception of the Black Spanish, all radishes, to indicate 
quality, should be bright and smooth from leaf to tip of 



156 Flo WEES, Fkuits, Vegetables, Etc. 

root. When they get too old for use, they get rough and 
pethy. 

Green okra in the market should be an even color all 
over, with no spots or bruises, and should not be cut over 
twelve hours to be in first-class order. The old type, the 
ribbed sort, should not be cut when over two inches 
long. When longer than that, it is likely to be tough. 
But the improved sort, known as the " White Velvet," 
is tender when as large as three or four inches. The lat- 
ter sort is almost perfectly round and is equally as good. 

In some sections farther North the people demand 
sugar corn, or six-weeks' corn, and will hardly take any 
other. In the Southern States sugar corn has its season 
in the early summer. After that we use red or yellow 
field corn, which is just as sweet as roasting ears, and 
we get more for the money. Red and yellow corn, when 
in the right condition for roasting ears, is white or 
cream-colored, and does not take on red or yellow un- 
til nearly ripe. 

When selecting green corn for the table, strip the 
shuck halfway down the ear. Try the thumb on a grain 
or two. If the milk does not flow freely, it is too hard. 
After a little experience, you can tell by the pearly ap- 
pearance of the grains that it is just in the right condi- 
tion. 

Bush or bunch snap beans are the earliest to mature, 
coming into market in early summer, and are in prime 
condition at that time ; but later on the pole and corn- 
field beans are better and finer, being larger, sweeter, 
and just as tender. Snap beans of all sorts are subject 
to a blight, which forms black spots on the beans, placing 
them in rather bad condition in appearance ; but it does 
not affect the taste and is not detrimental to health. The 
prevention of this disease is at the discretion of the gar- 



Flo WEES, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 157 

dener, and he should be required to turn out clean stuff. 
Snap beans that are withered or bruised will not give 
satisfaction, and should be avoided. 

Cucumbers for slicing for table use should be of a 
dark-green color and of a firm, unyielding nature when 
handled. This shows that they have not been cut from 
the vines very long and are in good order. If they have 
a white or light-green appearance, they are getting ripe, 
iand are unfit for anything but seed. If it is possible to 
buy by name, call for White Spine, Early Frame, or 
Extra Early Prolific for early; Cumberland, Livingston, 
Evergreen, and Nichol's Medium Green for late. These 
are the favorites at the present time. 

The cantaloupe is the hardest melon we know of to 
choose from for sweetness. Even the grower does not 
know that his melons are all sweet. In purchasing can- 
taloupes,' the surest plan to follow would be to bu)'- by 
name, choosing those with a very rough rind and show- 
ing just the least sign of a yellow mottling. Also notice 
that the stem had pulled off perfectly. If a portion of 
the stem adheres or has been cut off, the melon was har- 
vested green and is tasteless. 

If buying by name, you should choose Hackensack, 
Rocky Ford, Netted Gem, and Nutmeg. These are 
among the very best, and are generally sweet. When 
a cantaloupe turns yellow, it is worthless for anything 
but seed. 

English peas that have been shipped are often of 
doubtful character. If examined closely, they will be 
found to be moldy, although a casual observer would 
declare them to be in good order. You may place them 
in your cellar, to be used a day later, only to find them 
in a very bad state that will induce you, very reluctantly, 
to throw them in the slop tub. Peas that have been 



158 Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 

shipped by railway are often roughly handled, which 
bruises the hulls, rendering them unsightly. But they 
may be in perfect order in the interior. Break a pod or 
two for examination to make sure that they are in good 
condition. 

In selecting sweet potatoes, as much care should be 
displayed as in the choice of the Irish potato. When 
possible, buy only by name, and not by looks, as in this 
case looks are deceptive. Call for Southern Queen, 
Nansamon Yellow, Yellow Yam, New Orleans Red, and 
Mississippi Yellow. These are known to be good and 
sweet. These are the varieties to parboil and arrange 
about '' Billy 'Possum " when you are ready to bake him. 

If celery is required simply for garnishing or other- 
wise decorating the dining table, there is none more 
suitable for the purpose than the variety known as 
White Plume. Being almost pure white, the leaves very 
much like a dainty white fern, it lends a most refined 
aspect to the surrounding arrangement. White Plume 
has little claim as a condiment. If flavor and good qual- 
ity are required, we will name several that are good so 
as to aid the purchase of the best. These we mention 
are sweet, nutty, and tender when fresh. Call for either 
Golden Heart, Golden Dwarf, Giant Pascal, or Boston 
Market. From these you can choose both as to size and 
color. 

The market gardener usually plants lettuce suitable to 
the season in which it is intended ; but to aid the buyer 
in the selection of some particular variety, we will name 
a few for guidance. Call for Black-Seeded Simpson or 
Grand Rapids for winter, spring, and early summer; 
May King and California Butter Head for summer and 
autumn. About this time the Curled Endive comes 
more in favor for garnishing, and is used for salads sim- 



Flowejrs, Fruits, Vegetables, Etc. 159 

ilar to some preparations of lettuce. There are several 
varieties of endive, but the kinds mostly in demand are 
French Moss Curled and White Curled. This plant is 
considered one of the best for salads. 

In buying spring cabbage by weight, there is some cer- 
tainty of getting the worth of your money. If bought 
offhand, it is well to feel the weight of a few heads, 
choosing those that appear to be the heaviest. If the 
heads feel soft upon pressure, they are hollow or have 
been cut too long and kept in a dry atmosphere, render- 
ing them tough and unpalatable. Summer-grown cab- 
bage are subject to blight. It is advisable to examine 
closely when purchasing. Examine each head of cab- 
bage. If there are small, grayish spots scattered over 
the stems, resembling mildew, the interior may be badly 
decayed. The only way to decide the matter is to apply 
the nose or a knife. The mildew does not seem to be 
detrimental to the health of the person partaking of it 
after thoroughly cooking and does not seem to have any 
noticeable flavor. 

Cauliflower often looks as if decayed through being 
shipped. This is a discredit to the packer, who, in striv- 
ing to save on weight, spoiled the goods by not using 
enough soft packing material. By using the eye and 
nose it is an easy matter to determine the real condition. 

When buying asparagus, get green tips. They do not 
look so nice, but are always tender and of the finest fla- 
vor. The white shoots look much nicer, but are more or 
less tough. 

In buying canned vegetables of all kinds, examine both 
ends of the cans. If they are flat, the contents are likely 
to be good ; if the ends are bulging, the contents are 
spoiled. Always empty the contents at once when open 
to avoid ptomaine poisoning. 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Abronia (Annual) 7 

Acroclinium ; 7 

Adonis 7 

Ageratum 7 

Alyssum ^^ g 

Amaranthus . g 

Ambrosia : 9 

Ammobium 9 

Arnebia 10 

Asperula 10 

Asters 10 

Althea 28 

Anemones 28 

Anthemis' 29 

Ampelopsis 37 

Ampelopsis Veitchii 37 

Abutilon 38 

Apois Tuberosa 44 

Amaryllis 53 

A Few Don'ts 56 

Alternanthera 61 

Abyssinian Banana -■ 63 

Arundo 64 

Asparagus 70 

Asparagus Sprengeri 70 

Areca Lutescens 74 

Aspedistra 75 

Araucaria Excelsa 75 

Apples 83 

Autumn Planting 90 

Asparagus 98 

Asparagus in Beds . 100 

Arbor Vitae 133 

A Little Information 152 

Bachelor's Buttons 11 

Balsam . 11 

Browallia : 11 

6 



162 Index. 

Page. 

Balsam Apple 24 

Bryonopsis 25 

Barberry 43 

Begonias for Shade 67 

Begonias, Varieties ^ 72 

Best Flowering Plants for Winter 76 

Blackberries 86 

Beans, Early Bush 102 

Beans, White and Navy 103 

Beans, Bush Lima 103 

Beans, Pole 104 

Beets, Table 105 

Beets, Mangel 106 

Beets, Sugar 106 

Brussels Sprouts 106 

Box 134 

Blue Grass, Kentucky 142 

Blue Grass, Canadian 143 

Calendula 12 

Calliopsis 12 

Candytuft 12 

Celosia 12 

Centaurea 13 

Cosmos ■ 13 

Climbers 24 

Cobsea Scandens 26 

Convolvulus 26 

Cypress Vine 26 

Columbine 29 

Campanula 29 

Cowslip 30 

Clematis 35 

Chrysanthemums 39 

Calacanthus 43 

Crape Myrtle 43 

Crinum 45 

Crocuses 52 

Chionodoxa ■ 53 

Coleus, Solid Beds 56 

Caladiums, Solid Beds 62 

Cannas, Solid Beds 63 

Caladiums in Tubs 71 

Callas 71 

Cycas Revoluta 73 



Index. 163 

Page. 

Cocos Weddeliana , 74 

Cold Frames 82 

Cherries 85 

Cabbage, Early . 96 

Cabbage, Late 97 

Cauliflower, Early ■. 97 

Cauliflower, Summer 98 

Carrots . 100 

Celery 100 

Celeriac . 102 

Corn Salad 107 

Corn, Early 108 

Corn, Field 109 

Corn, Pop 109 

Cress, Garden — -. 110 

Cucumbers 110 

Cantaloupe 114 

Catalpa 136 

Creeping Bent 143 

Cutworms 144 

Dianthus 14 

Daisy, Bellis 30 

Deutzias -■ 44 

Dahlias 54 

Dusty Miller . 60 

Damsons 85 

Dogwood 139 

Day Lily, Yellow 65 

Eulalia Grass 32 

Endive 95 

Eggplant 111 

Evergreens 130 

Elm, Red 137 

Flowers 5 

Feverfew 14 

Four-O'Clocks 14 

Forget-Me-Not 22 

Foxglove 31 

Fuchsia 38 

Fringe Tree 42 

Ferns 69 

Ferns, Hardy 67 

Fruits 83 

Gaillardia 21 



164 Index. 

Page. 

Gourds 27 

Golden Glow 32 

Gladiolus 46 

Geraniums 57 

Geraniums, Gold and Silver 68 

Gaillardias in Solid Beds 61 

Grapes 81 

Gooseberries 86 

Garden Soils 88 

Garlic 91 

Grasses 142 

Heliotrope 21 

Hybiscus 22 

Hyacinth Bean 27 

Hollyhocks 32 

Honeysuckle 40 

Hydrangea, Hardy 40 

Hardy Gloxinia 46 

Hyacinths, Dutch 50 

Hardy Water Lilies and Other Aquatics 78 

Horse-Radish 112 

Herbs Useful for Flavoring 129 

Holly 133 

Hackberry _ 138 

Hop Vine, Japanese 35 

Iris, German 46 

Iris, Spanish 47 

Iris, Japanese 47 

Ivy, Kenilworth 39 

Japanese Kudzu Vine 36 

Junipers 132 

Kentias 73 

Kohlrabi 113 

Kale 114 

Location and Soil ^ — 5 

Lobelia 21 

Lavandula Vera 33 

Lilac 40 

Lilies to Plant in Spring 48 

Lillium Candidum 50 

Lantanas 59 

Lily of the Valley 66 

Lobelia 67 

Latania Borbonica 73 



Lmi^x. 165 

Page. 

Leeks : 94 

Lettuce 94 

Linden 137 

Marguerite Carnations 14 

Mignonette 15 

Moonflower 27 

Mimulus 33 

Monk's Hood 34 

Mock Orange 41 

Moneywort 67 

Mustard 116 

Magnolia Grandiflora 134 

Maple 135 

Manures, and How to Apply 149 

Nasturtium 16 

Nasturtium in Solid Beds 57 

Narcissus 52 

Narcissus, Paper White 51 

Onions from Seed 91 

Okra 112 

Propagation by Seeds 5 

Pansies 16 

Petunias 16 

Poppies . 17 

Portulaca 17 

Phlox Drummondii -. 20 

Periwinkle 22 

Phlox (Perennial) 23 

Perennials 28 

Pampas Grass ■. 31 

Passiflora 36 

Primrose, Hardy English 39 

Privet 41, 140 

Platycodon ■. 45 

Paeonias 48 

Petunias in Solid Beds 58 

Plantain Lily 65 

Plumbago 68 

Phoenix Canariensis 73 

Pandanas 75 

Plants Recommended for Aquariums 79 

Pears , 84 

Peaches 84 

Plums 84 



166 Index. 

Page. 

Parsley 116 

Parsley, Edible Roots 116 

Parsnips 117 

Peas, English ■ 117 

Peas, Field or Cow 118 

Peppers 119 

Potatoes, Irish 120 

Potatoes, Irish, Late 120 

Pumpkins 128 

Pines 131 

Pests, Diseases, Etc. 144 

Plant Lice 145 

Plants and Fruits that Have a Marked Effect on the Human 

System 151 

Ranunculus 49 

Roses 54 

Roses, Hybrid Perpetuals 54 

Roses, Ever-Blooming 55 

Ricinus 62 

Rubber Plant 74 

Raspberries ^- 86 

Reclaimed Wet Lands, Ponds, Etc. 90 

Radish, Early 123 

Radish, Late 123 

Rape 123 

Rhubarb 127 

Retinospora 130 

Red Cedar 132 

Redbud — 140 

Remember This 146 

Snapdragon 9 

Stocks : 18 

Sweet Peas 18 

Scabiosa 24 

Stokesia Cyanea — , 30 

Sweet William —r- 34 

Snowball 42 

Spireas 42 

Snowdrops 52 

Salvia 54 

Salpiglossis 60 

Strawberries 87 

Situation of the Land 88 

Sweet Potatoes -^— 122 



Index. 167 

Page. 
Salsify 124 

Spinach — 124 

Squash, Summer 125 

Squash, Winter 125 

Spruces 130 

Shade Trees 135 

Sweetgum 139 

Scale Insects 144 

Thunbergia ■ 25 

Tamarix 44 

Tigridias . 49 

Tulips 51 

Tritoma 59 

Tuberoses 64 

Tomato 126 

Verbena 19 

Violets — 34 

Vincas in Solid Beds 58 

Violets, All Sorts 66 

Vegetables 88 

Weigelas ' 42 

Window Boxes 81 

Watermelons ■ 115 

Wild Cherry (Black) 137 

Weeping Willow 140 

Wistaria 38 

Yellow Poplar 138 

Yucca 135 

Zeranthemum 19 

Zea Japonica 19 

Zinnia 20 



OCT 31 t910 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



^.v. 



